Federal authorities are investigating a cyber operation believed to be backed by China that targeted phones or networks used by former President Donald Trump and Sen. JD Vance. The extent of the operation and the information compromised are still unclear, but concerns have been raised about possible infiltration of telecommunication systems. The FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have issued a joint statement acknowledging the unauthorized access to commercial telecommunications infrastructure by actors affiliated with the People’s Republic of China.
The Justice Department and FBI have refrained from commenting on the matter, but sources familiar with the investigation have indicated that officials from both major political parties were targeted in a broad cyber attack. Law enforcement is treating the hack as an act of espionage rather than an attempt at campaign influence. The Trump campaign has blamed Democrats for the hack, alleging it was a ploy to prevent President Trump from returning to the White House. Major U.S. telecommunications companies such as Verizon, AT&T, and Lumen Technologies were impacted by the hacking group known as “Salt Typhoon.”
It is believed that the Chinese hackers accessed systems used by U.S. intelligence agencies to conduct wiretaps, raising concerns about the potential collection of sensitive information. The severity of the hack and the extent of the information accessed are still being assessed by government agencies and affected private companies. FBI Director Christopher Wray and other U.S. officials have repeatedly warned about cyber threats posed by China, citing previous instances of attacks on critical infrastructure systems. The investigation into the Salt Typhoon hack is ongoing, with industry peers and cyber experts working to confirm, assess, and remediate any potential impact.
The cyber operation targeting individuals affiliated with the 2024 presidential election is not an isolated incident, as evidenced by previous charges against three Iranian hackers for targeting members of former President Trump’s campaign. The Iranian hackers executed a wide-ranging hacking campaign that employed spearphishing and social engineering techniques to compromise accounts of government officials, members of the media, and individuals associated with U.S. political campaigns. While the charging documents do not name the campaign targeted by the Iranian hackers, U.S. officials have indicated Iran’s intention to undermine Trump’s bid for the White House. The ongoing investigations highlight the complex and evolving nature of cyber threats in the political landscape.
