If you are someone who still relies on text messages to communicate, it might be time to rethink that habit. Following a recent cyberattack by a Chinese group 'Salt Typhoon' in the U.S., the FBI has issued a warning to iPhone and Android users, urging them to avoid texting as a precaution against potential hacking threats.
Two cybersecurity officials, including a senior FBI representative and Jeff Greene from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), have recommended using encrypted messaging apps to safeguard against unauthorised access.?
Greene emphasised that encryption adds a critical layer of protection, explaining, "Our suggestion, what we have told folks internally, is not new here: Encryption is your friend, whether it's on text messaging or if you have the capacity to use encrypted voice communication. Even if the adversary is able to intercept the data, if it is encrypted, it will make it impossible."
Salt Typhoon, also known by aliases like Famous Sparrow, Ghost Emperor, and Earth Estries, is a Chinese state-backed cyberespionage group that has been active since at least 2019.?
The group has been tied to a cyberattack targetting at least eight U.S. telecommunications companies, including major players like AT&T, Verizon, and Lumen Technologies.?
Salt Typhoon's activities extend beyond the U.S., with reports of their operations impacting other countries.?
The attack aligns with China's broader strategic aim to collect intelligence and gain a geopolitical edge.?
Federal agencies, including the FBI and CISA, are actively working to address the vulnerabilities exploited in the attack, but efforts are complicated by the need to overhaul legacy hardware and infrastructure?.
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