Published on: November 21, 2024
In recent months, a significant cyber-espionage campaign linked to Chinese state-sponsored actors has targeted major telecommunications companies in the United States, including T-Mobile. The operation, identified as “Salt Typhoon,” aimed to infiltrate networks to monitor communications of high-value intelligence targets.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have confirmed that these breaches allowed hackers to access sensitive data, including information related to legal wiretaps and surveillance of government and political figures. The compromised data encompassed the cellular records of tens of millions of Americans, though not all were under surveillance.
T-Mobile acknowledged unauthorized access to a limited number of its routers but stated that its security measures enabled the swift identification and neutralization of the threat. The company emphasized that there is no evidence of customer calls or communication records being compromised:
“T-Mobile is closely monitoring this industry-wide attack. Due to our security controls, network structure, and diligent monitoring and response we have seen no significant impacts to T-Mobile systems or data,” T-Mobile said.
This incident is part of a broader pattern of cyberattacks on U.S. telecommunications providers. Other major companies, such as AT&T, Verizon, and Lumen Technologies, have also been affected by similar breaches. The attackers reportedly accessed networks for extended periods, collecting internet traffic and other sensitive information.
The US government has intensified its efforts to safeguard critical infrastructure in response to these developments. The FBI and CISA are collaborating with telecommunications companies to enhance defenses against such cyber threats. The Chinese government has consistently denied involvement in cyber-espionage activities.