Recent revelations indicate that the Chinese government's hacking efforts targeting prominent Americans are far more widespread than initially thought. U.S. law enforcement and intelligence officials have expressed growing concern over the scope and duration of this espionage operation.
According to sources familiar with the ongoing investigation, the Chinese campaign may have been active for over a year before its recent discovery. The operation appears to have successfully gathered vast amounts of data from the mobile devices of high-profile individuals across both major political parties, including business leaders and government officials.
The extent of the breach has alarmed authorities, who are still working to determine the full capabilities of the hackers. Of particular concern is whether the Chinese operatives could access real-time conversations and text messages or if they captured data for later analysis.
Among the notable targets were former President Donald Trump and Senator JD Vance, along with employees from various government agencies. The FBI is reportedly in the process of contacting individuals who may have been affected by the breach.
Intelligence officials attribute this sophisticated cyber operation to a group known as Salt Typhoon, believed to be run by the Chinese government. The hackers are thought to have exploited vulnerabilities in routers to gain access to cellphones and other mobile devices.
The discovery of this extensive hacking campaign has raised alarms about potential advancements in Chinese intrusion capabilities. Major telecommunications providers, including Verizon, have acknowledged the reported targeting by a "highly sophisticated nation-state actor" and are working with federal law enforcement and cybersecurity experts to assess and address any potential impacts.
As the investigation continues, U.S. officials are grappling with the implications of this massive privacy breach and working to understand the full extent of the Chinese operation.