China has utterly pwned ‘thousands and thousands’ of devices at US telcos

China has utterly pwned 'thousands and thousands' of devices at US telcos

November 25, 2024 at 08:22AM

The Biden administration met with telecom executives regarding China’s cyberattacks, which may necessitate significant network overhauls. Senator Mark Warner highlighted the severity of these incidents, noting they exceed prior threats by Russia. Both Warner and officials emphasized ongoing intelligence sharing about China’s extensive cyber espionage targeting US telcos.

### Meeting Takeaways:

1. **Biden Administration Engagement**: The administration hosted telecommunications executives to discuss China’s ongoing cyberattacks on US telco networks, emphasizing the need for potential mass rebuilds of US infrastructure.

2. **Senator Mark R. Warner’s Insights**:
– Warner, chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, provided alarming details regarding the severity and extent of China’s cyberattacks, which have been ongoing since before the US election.
– He described his concern about the situation, stating “My hair is on fire,” and suggested the issue may require the replacement of a significant number of telecommunication switches and routers.
– Warner compared the seriousness of China’s activities to prior incidents linked to Russia, indicating these attacks pose a greater threat.

3. **Ongoing Risk**:
– Warner highlighted that the full extent of China’s cyber activities is still largely unknown and that vulnerabilities in US telecom networks exist, noting that “the barn door is still wide open.”
– He raised concerns that Chinese state actors could potentially intercept phone calls, including those involving high-profile figures such as the president-elect, and had stolen significant data from US networks.

4. **FBI and CISA Coordination**:
– Warner’s statements align with earlier warnings from the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) regarding a Beijing-backed group named Salt Typhoon that has been infiltrating US telecommunications.

5. **China’s Response**:
– China has dismissed these allegations, claiming that the US fabricates such information but has not provided a substantive counter-narrative.

6. **Follow-up Discussion with Officials**:
– Following Warner’s revelations, national security advisor Jake Sullivan and deputy national security advisor for cyber and emerging technology Anne Neuberger met with telecom executives to share intelligence about the cyber espionage campaign by China, suggesting there are additional confidential details about the situation.

### Action Items:
– Monitor developments regarding potential infrastructure rebuilds.
– Stay informed on further information from the Biden administration regarding cybersecurity measures and Chinese espionage activities.
– Prepare for possible strategic responses or recommendations based on ongoing intelligence assessments.

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