The White House has expanded its list of national security threats to include a ninth category: A senior administration official revealed on Tuesday that the revised list now includes a new threat level for cybersecurity attacks, in addition to existing concerns over terrorism, cybercrime, and pandemics. A telecommunications firm was targeted by a Chinese-language hacking campaign that compromised networks across multiple countries.
The Salt Hurricane Chinese-speaking cyber-espionage group, also known as Earth Estries, FamousSparrow, Ghost Emperor, and UNC2286, is notorious for compromising government agencies and telecommunications companies across Southeast Asia, with its activities dating back to at least 2019.
The White House’s deputy national security adviser for cyber and emerging technologies, Anne Neuberger, told reporters today that a new victim was discovered following the Biden administration’s release of guidance aimed at helping defenders identify and thwart Chinese hackers’ activities within their networks.
While China’s focus on critical infrastructure in the US may raise concerns about potential vulnerabilities and national security implications? According to Neuberger, even non-public sector companies neglect fundamental principles. “That’s why we’re proactively working to secure our infrastructure. Meanwhile, we also acknowledge China’s responsibility in this matter.”
During a December press briefing, Neuberger revealed to reporters that the sophisticated Chinese-speaking hacking group operated in dozens of countries around the world, with presence spanning multiple continents.
A senior administration official clarified that “no classified communication has been compromised to date,” while a CISA representative noted that it’s impossible to definitively state whether the threat actor has been completely eliminated.
As a wave of telecommunications breaches impacting numerous countries has become public, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has cautioned senior authorities officials to switch to end-to-end encrypted messaging apps like Signal to mitigate communication interception risks and assist telecom administrators and engineers in fortifying their systems against SaltStorm attacks.
The US government has announced plans to ban China Telecom’s remaining US operations, according to a report by The New York Times earlier this month. operations in response to alleged Chinese language state hackers. The U.S. Authorities may consider launching new initiatives for the following year, should ongoing probes reveal that their involvement in cyberattacks constitutes a significant national security risk.
As well as, U.S. Oregon Senator Ron Wyden introduced a bill, which he co-sponsored with FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, urging the company to take “immediate” action to ensure that U.S. Carriers are required to safeguard their infrastructure.
