Chinese hack of 8 US telecom companies prompts FBI warning

[Lauren]

THERE ARE NEW DETAILS IN WHAT’S BEING CALLED ONE OF THE WORST CYBER HACKS IN HISTORY … AS FEDERAL OFFICIALS REVEAL THE SCOPE OF THE ATTACK IS WIDER THAN FIRST THOUGHT – IMPACTING MULTIPLE U-S COMMUNICATION NETWORKS. 

CHINESE GOVERNMENT AFFILIATED HACKERS ARE ACCUSED OF STEALING RECORDS, INTERCEPTING VOICE CALLS AND GETTING INTO THE WIRE TAP SYSTEM USED BY THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO INVESTIGATE PEOPLE SUSPECTED OF CRIMES OR SPYING.  

OFFICIALS SAY MOST OF THE PRIVATE COMMUNICATION THE HACKERS ACCESSED INVOLVED PEOPLE AFFILIATED WITH THE GOVERNMENT OR POLITICS ..

BUT THEIR ACCESS TO AT LEAST EIGHT AMERICAN COMPANIES LIKE VERIZON AND A-T-AND-T IS PROMPTING A WARNING TO ALL AMERICANS FROM THE F-B-I … TO MAKE CALLS OR SEND MESSAGES OVER ENCRYPTED APPS LIKE WHAT’S APP OR I-MESSAGE.

THAT’S BECAUSE THE ISSUE ISN’T RESOLVED.
DEPUTY NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER ANNE NEUBERGER SAYS THE HACKERS ARE STILL BELIEVED TO BE LURKING IN SOME SYSTEMS.

there is a risk of ongoing compromises… to communications .. until U.S. companies address the cybersecurity gaps, the Chinese are likely to maintain their access.

IN ADDITION TO THE U-S COMPANIES … WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS SAY THE CHINESE HACKERS …  INFILTRATED DOZENS OF COMPANIES ACROSS ASIA AND EUROPE OVER THE LAST ONE TO TWO YEARS. 

THE GROUP ALLEGEDLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HACK – SALT TYPHOON – IS THE SAME GROUP BEHIND THE HACKS OF THE TRUMP AND HARRIS CAMPAIGNS BEFORE THE ELECTION. 

THE CHINESE EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON DENIED ACCUSATIONS THAT IT’S RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HACK.

FOR SAN – I’M LAUREN TAYLOR.

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