China’s recent breach into the U.S. telecommunications system was more extensive than initially reported, according to Senator Mark Warner, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. The hackers, linked to Chinese intelligence, intercepted phone calls and text messages by exploiting outdated equipment and vulnerabilities in the network infrastructure. Warner expressed astonishment at the extent of the breach, which was conducted over the past year and identified by Microsoft’s cybersecurity team last summer.
Initially, investigators believed the hackers used stolen passwords to access systems that intercept calls and texts under court orders, maintained by leading telecommunications firms like Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile. However, recent findings revealed that the hackers penetrated deeper into the nation’s infrastructure by exploiting gaps and outdated technology across interconnected networks. Although the hackers seemingly halted their activities after the hack’s revelation to avoid further detection, Warner warned against assuming that the intruders have fully exited the systems or that their infiltration is completely understood.
China’s deep telecoms cyber infiltration
“We’ve not found everywhere they are,” Warner stated. The Senate Intelligence Committee continues to investigate the depth of the intrusion and maintains ongoing communications with telecommunications executives regarding the breach.
Government officials are grappling to determine exactly what China obtained and how it monitored conversations by various high-profile Americans, including President-elect Donald J. Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance. The barn door is still wide open, or mostly open,” said Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, a former telecommunications executive, during an interview on Thursday.
The Senate Intelligence Committee, having received briefings from the government, continues to investigate the depth of the intrusion and maintains ongoing communications with telecommunications executives regarding the breach.
