A ninth telecommunications company has been identified as compromised by the Chinese-linked cyberespionage campaign known as “Salt Typhoon,” according to Anne Neuberger, U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor for Cyber and Emerging Technology. The unnamed telecom joins major firms like Verizon, AT&T, and Lumen, previously targeted in the sweeping operation.
Neuberger disclosed Friday that the addition followed new U.S. government guidance to detect and defend against the cyber threat. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has urged government and political figures to adopt end-to-end encrypted communication apps, citing risks uncovered by Salt Typhoon. The campaign reportedly targeted figures associated with former Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and President-elect Donald Trump, exposing a significant amount of Americans’ metadata.
Chinese officials have dismissed the allegations as disinformation, reiterating Beijing’s opposition to cyberattacks in all forms. U.S. lawmakers, however, described the breach as unprecedented. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) called it “the largest telecommunications hack in U.S. history,” while Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) emphasized the need to secure communication networks.
In response, FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has proposed rules requiring telecom carriers to bolster network security. Neuberger warned that the attackers had “broad and full access” to networks, enabling geolocation of millions, recording of phone calls, and more. Updated FCC regulations, she said, could mitigate future threats and limit the impact of such intrusions.
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