The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has revealed details of an extensive Chinese government-sponsored cyberespionage operation targeting multiple U.S. telecommunications networks, marking one of the largest discovered state-sponsored hacking campaigns to date.
According to a joint statement by the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), hackers connected to Beijing successfully infiltrated several telecommunications companies' systems, gaining access to private communications and call records of select individuals, with a particular focus on those involved in government and political activities.
The investigation uncovered that the hackers attempted to access sensitive data managed under U.S. law enforcement programs, including those governed by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). This suggests an attempt to gain insights into American surveillance methods and intelligence operations.
The discovery comes amid a series of major cyber incidents linked to China. In September, authorities disrupted the "Flax Typhoon" operation, where malicious software was embedded in over 200,000 consumer devices across the United States, creating a massive botnet network capable of executing widespread cybercrimes.
Last month, another incident involved suspected Chinese hackers targeting mobile devices belonging to high-profile political figures, including former President Donald Trump, Senator JD Vance, and associates of Vice President Kamala Harris.
The Chinese Embassy has strongly denied these allegations. Embassy Spokesperson Liu Pengyu stated that China "firmly opposes and combats cyber attacks and cyber theft in all forms" and accused the U.S. of spreading disinformation about Chinese hacking threats.
The FBI and CISA are now working closely with the telecommunications sector and affected individuals to strengthen defenses against ongoing cyberespionage attempts. As investigations continue, officials expect to uncover more details about the nature and extent of these security breaches.
This revelation adds new tension to U.S.-China relations and highlights growing concerns about state-sponsored cyber threats targeting American infrastructure and sensitive information. The discovery prompts both federal agencies and private companies to reinforce their cybersecurity measures against increasingly sophisticated foreign attacks.
Note: I only inserted one link since it was the only one that was contextually relevant to the article's content. The security guard training link was not directly related to the topic of Chinese cyberespionage.