US authorities instructed to adopt encrypted communication methods
The US government has advised “highly targeted individuals” to transition to encrypted messaging applications in the wake of a significant security breach. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
The US government has issued a warning to senior officials and other “highly targeted individuals” to rely on encrypted messenger applications rather than standard phone calls and texts following a cybersecurity incident that involved hackers reportedly exploiting systems established by US authorities to wiretap American citizens.
Recently, Washington accused the alleged China-linked hacker group known as ‘Salt Typhoon’ of carrying out an extensive cyber espionage campaign against US telecommunications firms. Beijing, however, has consistently denied these claims as unfounded allegations.
“This activity enabled the theft of customer call records and compromised private communications for a limited number of highly targeted individuals,” the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency stated in a new security guidance released on Wednesday.
The agency's guidance recommends that “highly targeted individuals in senior government or political positions” transition to end-to-end encrypted messaging apps for communications, along with additional security measures. Although the agency did not promote any specific service, platforms like Telegram, Signal, and WhatsApp are noted for their encryption capabilities, which protect both incoming and outgoing messages, thereby enhancing privacy for users.
Last month, CISA publicly attributed the security breach to entities purportedly connected to China, acknowledging that some of the information stolen was retained under US government surveillance protocols as a result of “legal” wiretapping of American subjects.
The hacking incident impacted the private communications of specific individuals “primarily involved in government or political activity,” and included “information subject to US law enforcement requests pursuant to court orders,” according to the agency.
During a Senate hearing last week, US lawmakers pressed cybersecurity experts for methods to improve security in the American telecommunications sector, describing the incident as “the largest telecommunications hack in our nation’s history.”
In response, Beijing has continually rebuffed hacking accusations from Washington. Last week, the Chinese Foreign Ministry reiterated that the US employs these hacking claims to discredit China and rationalize unilateral sanctions.
“We urge the US to stop using cybersecurity issues to smear and vilify China and to cease imposing illicit unilateral sanctions,” stated Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning.
Mark B Thomas for TROIB News
Recently, Washington accused the alleged China-linked hacker group known as ‘Salt Typhoon’ of carrying out an extensive cyber espionage campaign against US telecommunications firms. Beijing, however, has consistently denied these claims as unfounded allegations.
“This activity enabled the theft of customer call records and compromised private communications for a limited number of highly targeted individuals,” the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency stated in a new security guidance released on Wednesday.
The agency's guidance recommends that “highly targeted individuals in senior government or political positions” transition to end-to-end encrypted messaging apps for communications, along with additional security measures. Although the agency did not promote any specific service, platforms like Telegram, Signal, and WhatsApp are noted for their encryption capabilities, which protect both incoming and outgoing messages, thereby enhancing privacy for users.
Last month, CISA publicly attributed the security breach to entities purportedly connected to China, acknowledging that some of the information stolen was retained under US government surveillance protocols as a result of “legal” wiretapping of American subjects.
The hacking incident impacted the private communications of specific individuals “primarily involved in government or political activity,” and included “information subject to US law enforcement requests pursuant to court orders,” according to the agency.
During a Senate hearing last week, US lawmakers pressed cybersecurity experts for methods to improve security in the American telecommunications sector, describing the incident as “the largest telecommunications hack in our nation’s history.”
In response, Beijing has continually rebuffed hacking accusations from Washington. Last week, the Chinese Foreign Ministry reiterated that the US employs these hacking claims to discredit China and rationalize unilateral sanctions.
“We urge the US to stop using cybersecurity issues to smear and vilify China and to cease imposing illicit unilateral sanctions,” stated Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning.
Mark B Thomas for TROIB News
