DailyPost 2934
US TELECOM FIRMS INFILTRATED
The hacking of telecom firms is not going to end anytime soon. What they have on offer for the hackers is well known by now, it being a critical tech infra. Newer methods and exploits are coming out in the open. As the US telecommunications industry forms the backbone for both internet and phone communications, it has become the hunting ground of state sponsored hackers. That we are continuously in the midst of specific event triggered cyber offensives besides the regular war of attrition, needs to be appreciated by all agencies in the interest of any nation. Cyber preparedness both on the defensive and the offensive sides have become a necessity.
The US China simmering conflict finds its manifestation in a variety of ways. If we talk of skill wise upgrade of any group of tech professionals, the hackers would be at the top. They have been on the top for a long time. Amongst them too, Chinese have made a name for themselves. As per news in the public domain highly skilled Chinese hackers have been to infiltrate multiple US telecom firms. As would be expected, they have targeted all critical players in the US telecom industry. The leading names include AT&T, Verizon and Lumen, major broadband and internet providers. These hacks have taken place in the last few months.
According to CNN, hackers could gain access to wiretap warrant requests. The extent of damage and what exact information was compromised will only come out at the end of the ongoing agitation. It is for sure a cyber espionage campaign. It also raises serious concerns about the potential cyber risk. All this has been happening in the backdrop of heightened tension between Washington and Beijing over cyber espionage and border security issues. The current attack is a major attack which has been attributed to this backdrop.
The hacked telco entities have not responded in public nor have the US agencies involved in the investigation. The Chinese embassy in Washington DC finds the accusations as ‘distortion of fact’ and it being a ‘smear campaign.’ Microsoft and Mandiant have been brought to add tech teeth to the investigation. What is being highlighted in the investigation is the persistence and sophistication of the hacking group Salt Typhoon. As per the FBI Director Chinese government backed hackers vastly outnumber FBI cyber personnel by a staggering 50 to 1. One such group has been allegedly lurking in US transportation and communication networks to disrupt the response, if China attacked Taiwan. In an important hacking operation Chinese hackers breached the unclassified email accounts of senior US diplomats just before the US Secretary of State to China.
THE SKILL AND THE NUMBER OF HACKERS AT CHINA’S COMMAND HAS MADE IT A PREDOMINANT FORCE IN ANY CYBER WAR.
Sanjay Sahay
Have a nice evening.