AT&T, Verizon secure cyber espionage operations Salt Typhoon: Report

Two US telecommunications companies, AT&T and Verizon, have confirmed the security of their US networks following cyber espionage attempts linked to the China-backed Operation Salt Typhoon.

According to a recent Reuters report, mobile phone operators acknowledged the attacks on Saturday, saying they were cooperating with law enforcement and government agencies to protect their systems.

While only a limited number of cases involving compromised information have been identified, AT&T said it is actively monitoring and remediating its networks to protect customer data. Verizon also confirmed the extent of the breach, citing verification from an independent cybersecurity firm.

The Salt Typhoon hackers gained extensive access to networks, allowing them to geolocate individuals and potentially record phone calls at will. US officials revealed that a new, unnamed telecommunications company was targeted, along with other known entities such as Lumen, according to the report.

The hackers allegedly stole wiretaps and significant volumes of call recording data. As a precaution, the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recently urged government and political figures to adopt end-to-end encrypted communication applications.

Operation Salt Typhoon reportedly targeted individuals associated with the presidential campaigns of both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump.

Chinese officials rejected the allegations, describing them as disinformation. According to the report, Beijing reiterated its opposition to cyber-attacks and cyber-theft in all forms.