In response to one of the largest intelligence breaches in U.S. history, federal officials are strongly recommending that Americans switch to encrypted messaging apps to protect their communications from foreign hackers.
The massive cyberattack, named "Salt Typhoon" by Microsoft, has compromised major telecommunications companies including AT&T, Verizon, and Lumen Technologies. The breach is believed to be part of a Chinese espionage campaign targeting American political and government communications.
"Encryption is your friend," stated Jeff Greene, executive assistant director for cybersecurity at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). "Even if the adversary intercepts encrypted data, it will be impossible for them to access the content."
The hackers gained access to three key types of information: call records showing phone numbers and timing of calls (particularly around Washington D.C.), live phone conversations of specific targets, and internal telecommunications systems used for law enforcement surveillance.
Federal officials specifically recommend apps with end-to-end encryption capabilities like Signal and WhatsApp, which automatically encrypt both calls and messages. Apple's iMessage and Google Messages also offer end-to-end encryption features.
The scale of the breach remains unclear, with officials unable to provide a timeline for when telecommunications networks will be fully secured. While the FBI does not believe the attack was meant to influence elections, they consider it a massive intelligence gathering operation.
Senator Ron Wyden criticized the current telecommunications infrastructure, noting that when companies like AT&T and Verizon are hacked, sensitive communications become vulnerable to foreign adversaries.
The FBI official advised Americans to use phones that receive regular security updates and implement strong authentication measures for email, social media, and other online accounts to better protect their communications.