FBI Warns of Cyber Risk from Texts Between Android and iPhone Users. Due to the unprecedented cyber attack on major telecommunications companies like AT&T, Verizon, and Lumen Technologies, US officials have advised Americans to prefer encrypted messaging apps to protect their communications from foreign hackers. The attack, named Salt Typhoon by Microsoft, is one of US history’s largest and most significant intelligence breaches. Despite efforts to minimize the damage, officials said the breach was not fully contained.
The hackers, believed to be linked to China, targeted telecom giants in a sophisticated operation designed to spy on customers. However, the Chinese Embassy in Washington has denied involvement, stating that “China firmly opposes and combats all kinds of cyber attacks.”
FBI Warns of Cyber Risk from Texts Between Android and iPhone Users
The Scope of the Cyberattack
The Salt Typhoon campaign has put vast amounts of data from telecommunications companies at risk, raising concerns about the security of the US communications infrastructure. The breach, which affected both private and government entities, has not yet been fully resolved. According to officials, the US government is unable to predict when the country’s telecommunications system will be completely free of attackers.
During a news call on Tuesday, Jeff Green, a senior FBI official and executive assistant director for cybersecurity at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), emphasized the importance of using encrypted messaging services. Now that hackers can intercept a wide variety of sensitive communications, he stressed that encryption remains one of the best defences against cyber threats, especially from state-sponsored actors.
Why Encryption is Critical?
Encryption serves as a powerful protection for personal communications, ensuring that only the intended recipient can read or listen to messages. If the data is intercepted by hackers, encryption renders it unreadable, making it useless even if accessed.
“We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: encryption is your friend,” Green said during the call. “Whether it’s text messaging or encrypted voice communications, encryption ensures that even if adversaries manage to intercept the data, they won’t be able to figure out what it means.”
The FBI official also stressed the importance of other security measures for mobile devices. “For those who want to further secure their mobile communications, we recommend using a phone that automatically receives timely operating system updates, adopting responsible encryption practices, and enabling phishing-resistant multi-factor authentication on email, social media, and collaboration tools,” the official advised.
What the Hackers Have Targeted?
According to the FBI, the hackers primarily targeted three types of data: call records (metadata), live phone calls, and communications from specific high-profile individuals. Call metadata reveals which numbers were dialled and when, although the FBI has not said how many people were affected by this particular data breach. Notably, the attack was focused on phone records around Washington, D.C., indicating that the threat was aimed at high-profile targets.
In some cases, the hackers were able to listen to live phone calls. The FBI has already alerted some individuals, including prominent political figures, about the breach. Notably, those targeted included several members of the U.S. Senate and presidential campaigns. However, the FBI did not specify how many alerts were issued or which individuals were affected.
Ongoing threat
The scope and scale of the Salt Typhoon cyberattack are so significant that officials from both the FBI and CISA said it is impossible to predict when the attackers will be fully removed from U.S. telecommunications systems. The threat is far from over and the breach remains a serious national security concern.
What can Americans do?
As the government works to address the breach, officials are encouraging Americans to take proactive steps to protect their communications. By adopting Signal, WhatsApp, and other encrypted messaging apps that provide end-to-end encryption, individuals can greatly reduce the risk of their private conversations being intercepted.
Cybersecurity experts recommend that individuals stay alert for phishing attempts and other forms of social engineering that may occur due to the breach. To enhance online security, it is essential to regularly update operating systems, use strong passwords, and enable multi-factor authentication. These are straightforward yet effective measures that can help protect against potential threats.
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