Washington: Chinese hackers have been accused of compromising US telecommunications systems and engaging in espionage on American presidential campaigns, with US officials warning that it may take years before the hackers are removed from the network, VOA News reported.
The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the FBI on Tuesday called on US telecommunication companies and their customers to take more precautions, stressing the breach might go deeper than first thought.
Speaking at a briefing with reporters, Jeff Greene, CISA’s executive assistant director for cybersecurity, said, “We cannot say with certainty that the adversary has been evicted because we still don’t know the scope of what they’re doing.”
Greene said, “We cannot with confidence say that we know everything, nor would our partners,” adding that, “We’re still trying to understand.” A senior FBI official also discussed breach investigation. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity said, “Understanding the scope of the adversary activity through our investigations, in a situation of this magnitude, is measured in years,” according to VOA News report.
The official further warned, “As more comes to light they change their TTPs [tactics, techniques and procedures] and their approach.” The official said, “They may go dormant for a while to lower their profile.”
The breach, first revealed in October, is attributed to Salt Typhoon, a Chinese-linked cyber gang suspected of targeting communications networks to spy on the presidential campaigns of both US President-elect Donald Trump and his Democratic challenger, Vice President Kamala Harris. The hackers have reportedly adapted their tactics as more details about their activities have surfaced, complicating the ongoing investigation.
According to the VOA, both CISA and the FBI emphasized the uncertainty surrounding the long-term impact of the breach. The FBI official warned that fully understanding the scope of the hackers’ operations could take years due to the complexity and scale of the intrusion. (ANI)
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