U.S. experts sound the alarm: China’s cyber espionage threat grows as Salt Typhoon breaches U.S. telecom giants

• Chinese cyber espionage campaign: The article highlights a severe cyber espionage campaign by China, specifically mentioning Salt Typhoon, a state-sponsored hacking group that has breached the security of eight U.S. telecom companies, putting millions of Americans’ sensitive data at risk.
• Metadata compromise: Salt Typhoon has compromised the metadata of over one million people, including potential high-profile government officials and politicians. This metadata provides valuable insights into the social and professional networks of targets, making it a valuable tool for intelligence services.
• Vulnerability and expert opinions: This breach is seen as a significant threat to national security and personal privacy, with experts stating that the U.S. is falling behind in cyber deterrence against China. James Mulvenon, among others, warns of the growing severity of the situation.
• Complexity of cyber espionage: Unlike traditional espionage, cyber espionage exploits digital vulnerabilities to steal information. Salt Typhoon’s focus on metadata highlights how seemingly less sensitive data can be more revealing than actual communication content when pieced together.
• Need for robust response: The article underscores the need for a strong U.S. response, emphasizing both defensive measures and punitive actions to deter future Chinese cyber operations. The challenge lies in finding the political will to implement these measures effectively.

Cybersecurity experts are ringing the alarm on China’s relentless cyber espionage campaign. The latest shockwave came in the form of Salt Typhoon, a Chinese state-sponsored hacking group that’s breached the security of at least eight U.S. telecom companies, leaving millions of Americans’ sensitive data dangerously exposed.

The severity of this breach cannot be overstated. Salt Typhoon has succeeded in compromising the metadata of over a million people, potentially including sensitive data from high-profile government officials and politicians. This metadata, which includes call and text records, is a goldmine for spies looking to piece together the social and professional networks of their targets. (Related: White House: Hackers linked to China infiltrated 8 telecommunication companies in the U.S.).

James Mulvenon, chief intelligence officer at Pamir Consulting, said during a recent Senate hearings: “The United States is in a very deep cyber deterrence hole with China, and it’s only getting deeper.” Mulvenon’s warning comes after years of China’s aggressive cyber operations, which have left the U.S. scrambling to catch up and formulate a robust response.

Salt Typhoon is a state-sponsored hacking group with the backing of Beijing, and its recent exploits have put the U.S. in an increasingly vulnerable position. The hack on U.S. telecom giants like AT&T, CenturyLink, and Verizon is more than a mere breach; it’s a profound threat to national security and personal privacy.

Cyber espionage is insidious and complex. Unlike traditional espionage, where spies might physically plant bugs or intercept communications, cyber espionage leverages digital vulnerabilities to steal information. In the case of Salt Typhoon, the hackers targeted the metadata of phone calls and texts, which might not seem as sensitive as the actual content of communications. However, metadata can be incredibly revealing. As General Michael Hayden, a former director of the CIA and NSA, once observed, “We kill people based on metadata.”

Think of metadata as a digital fingerprint. It tells the story of who communicates with whom, when, and where. This kind of information is invaluable for intelligence services, as it can expose networks of influence, identify key players, and map out social and political landscapes.

While White House officials claim to have briefed President Joe Biden on the issue and are committed to enhancing cybersecurity, experts like James Lewis are not satisfied. Lewis, director of the Strategic Technologies Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, emphasized the need for a two-pronged approach: a clear warning to Beijing, followed by decisive action.

Salt Typhoon’s activities are part of a larger Chinese campaign to exploit global telecommunications networks

The U.S. has the capabilities to respond to these threats, but the will to act is often lacking. “It’s a political will and National Command Authority decision-making discussion,” Mulvenon stated. The U.S. Cyber Command has conducted “hunt forward operations” to constrain adversary freedom of maneuver, but these efforts must be paired with punitive actions to truly deter China from future cyber operations.

Salt Typhoon’s activities are not an isolated incident. They are part of a larger Chinese campaign to exploit global telecommunications networks. This includes operations by other state-backed groups like Flax Typhoon, which exploited consumer devices through a botnet.

The question of what constitutes an acceptable response to these cyber intrusions remains a contentious issue. While the U.S. seeks to impose costs on China to alter its calculus of expected value from these attacks, the exact form of these punishments remains unclear. Cyber tools, economic sanctions, or diplomatic pressure – the U.S. has a range of options, but the political resolve to deploy them is the real challenge.

As the decibel levels rise on calls for a stronger U.S. response to China’s cyber espionage, one thing is clear: the time for action is now. The U.S. must not only invest in defensive measures to patch vulnerabilities but also develop and execute a comprehensive strategy that includes punitive measures to dissuade China from future cyber operations.

The sentiment among tech experts is unambiguous: the U.S. is not winning the ongoing cyber espionage battle, and the services Americans depend on daily are at risk. It’s time for the U.S. to close the gap in cyber deterrence and take decisive action against Chinese state-backed cyber threats.

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Watch this warning: ‘BE AWARE’: Expert on China producing ‘crucial’ national security-related materials

This video is from News Clips on Brighteon.com.

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Sources are: 

TheEpochtimes.com

NBCNews.com

Brighteon.com