Bloomberg News reported Thursday that FBI leaders said hackers who broke into AT&T's systems last year likely stole several months' worth of agents' call records and text logs, which are classified as confidential. It warned that it was urging urgent efforts to protect the identities of informants.
The breach is believed to have compromised all FBI equipment that utilizes the FBI's AT&T public safety services, including agents' cellphones, according to documents and interviews with current and former employees reviewed by Bloomberg. It also included numbers used for calls and emails. Law enforcement officer.
Last July, AT&T announced that the company had been hit by a major hacking incident in April, when data from approximately 109 million customer accounts, including call and text message records from 2022, was illegally downloaded. Announced.
According to the report, FBI officials have told investigators across the country that billions of stolen records likely include details about their use on carrier networks. It said the hacked records would not reveal the contents of the communications, but added that they could link investigators to confidential sources. the report added.
An FBI spokesperson told Reuters the agency “has a solemn responsibility to protect the identity and safety of our confidential sources who provide information every day that protects the safety of the American people, often putting themselves at risk.” .
In a subsequent message, the spokesperson said the FBI has a responsibility to protect the identities of “individuals who contact the FBI and provide information.”
“After criminals stole customer data last year, we worked closely with law enforcement to reduce the impact on government operations,” AT&T spokesperson Alex Byers told Reuters.
The breach follows widespread concerns about cyber espionage targeting U.S. communications networks.
On January 10, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said the US had taken steps to counter cyber espionage against China-linked US telecommunications companies.
US telecommunications companies Verizon and AT&T announced late last year that their networks, which had been targeted by cyber hackers, were now secure after working with the US government and law enforcement agencies.
