Federal authorities are urgently investigating a cyberattack linked to China-backed hackers that targeted major U.S. telecommunications companies and systems used for key government intelligence collection capabilities, a U.S. official familiar with the matter confirmed to CBS News.
The hacking group known as “Salt Typhoon” hit numerous companies including Verizon, AT&T and Lumen Technologies. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the depth and the severity of the hack are not yet clear.
According to the official, the Chinese hackers breached systems used by U.S. intelligence to conduct wiretaps, and both government agencies and the affected private companies are trying to ascertain what information, if any, the malign actors were able to collect.
Read the rest of the story at CBS News.
