FBI Reveals Chinese Hackers Stole US Officials’ Data Using Telecom Firms

WASHINGTON: A federal investigation into Chinese government efforts to hack into U.S. telecommunications networks has revealed a “bro and significant” cyberespionage campaign aimed at stealing information from Americans who work in government and politics, FBI said Wednesday.

Hackers affiliated with Beijing have compromised networks of “multiple” telecommunications companies to obtain customer call records and gain access to private communications of “a limited number of individuals," according to a joint statement issued by FBI and federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

FBI did not identify any of individuals targeted by hackers but said most of m “are primarily involved in government or political activity."

hackers also sought to copy “certain information that was subject to U.S. law enforcement requests pursuant to court orders,” FBI said, suggesting hackers may have been trying to compromise programs like those subject to Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA, which grants American spy agencies sweeping powers to surveil communications of individuals suspected of being agents of a foreign power.”

warning comes after several high-profile hacking incidents that U.S. authorities have linked to China, part of what y say is an effort to steal technological and government information while also targeting vital infrastructure like electrical grid.

In September, FBI announced that it h disrupted a vast Chinese hacking operation known as Flax Typhoon that involved installation of malicious software on more than 200,000 consumer devices, including cameras, video recorders and home and office routers. devices were n used to create a massive network of infected computers, or botnet, that could n be used to carry out or cyber crimes.

Last month, officials said hackers linked to China targeted phones of n-presidential candidate Donald Trump and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, along with people associated with Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris.

Authorities did not disclose how or if operations announced Wednesday are connected to earlier campaigns.

In ir statement Wednesday, FBI and CISA said officials are working with telecommunication industry and hacking victims to shore up defenses against continuing attempts at cyberespionage.

“We expect our understanding of se compromises to grow as investigation continues,” agencies wrote.

China has rejected accusations from U.S. officials that it engages in cyberespionage directed against Americans. A message left with China's embassy in Washington was not immediately returned Wednesday.

(Except for heline, this story has not been edited by Republic and is published from a syndicated feed.)