(NEXSTAR) – FBI officials are once again warning that personal text messages are not safe following a major cyber attack linked to the Chinese government.
The concerns arose after a hacking operation dubbed “Salt Typhoon” gained access to the private texts and phone conversations of an unidentified American. The hacker group reportedly has ties to the Chinese government.
Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, called it “the worst communications hack in our nation's history.” The Washington Post reported.
Earlier this month, the FBI and other government cybersecurity officials recommended that Americans switch from regular text messages to encrypted messaging apps if they want to protect themselves from Chinese hackers. NBC News coverage.
“What we're proposing, what we've been telling people internally is nothing new here: Whether it's text messaging or the ability to use encrypted voice communications, encryption is We're on your side. Even if an adversary could intercept your data, it's impossible if it's encrypted,” said Jeff Green, executive assistant director for cybersecurity at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. spoke.
Salt Typhoon primarily targets strategically important officials and researchers, said Vahid Bezadan, an assistant professor and researcher at the University of New Haven. Federal authorities say hackers are linked to Chinatargeted the phonePeople associated with Donald Trump, J.D. Vance, and Kamala Harris.
But ordinary individuals are also at risk, as hackers have collected large amounts of metadata.
“This information can reveal communication patterns, social networks, and potential vulnerabilities even if the content is not accessible, making it a valuable tool for adversaries to identify and exploit targets. ” Bezadan said.
While you may not be the primary target of such hacking operations, “ordinary individuals are not immune,” he added. Your communications and connections could reveal something that supports an adversary's misinformation campaign or brings them closer to a valuable target.
People concerned about the security of their text messages can use messaging apps like WhatsApp or Signal instead, regardless of the type of phone they use or their communications provider. Encrypted messages cannot be read while they are in transit between the sending and receiving phones. Google Messages and the Messages app on Apple devices are also encrypted.
Encryption is not a surefire solution against hacking, but it does offer stronger protection, Bezadan said. “Assessing the risks and benefits of different communication methods and being careful when sharing sensitive information is key to minimizing threats.”
The federal government has also released technical guidance for telecommunications companies to strengthen their security.
“Until U.S. companies address the cybersecurity gaps that likely allow China to maintain access, there is a risk that communications breaches will continue,” Deputy National Security Adviser Anne Neuberge said in a statement.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
