AT&T and Verizon Declare Networks Secure After Salt Typhoon Breach. Here is a quick look.

AT&T and Verizon have confirmed that their networks are secure following a breach by the China-linked Salt Typhoon cyberespionage group. Both telecom giants have taken significant steps to address the incident and ensure customer data remains protected.

Verizon’s Response

Verizon spokesperson Richard Young stated that the company has contained the cyber incident brought on by Salt Typhoon. He added that Verizon has not detected any threat actor activity on its network for some time. The containment efforts were confirmed by a highly respected cybersecurity firm, though the name of the firm was not disclosed.

AT&T’s Response

Similarly, AT&T spokesperson Alexander Byers mentioned that the company detects no activity by nation-state actors in its networks at this time. AT&T also revealed that China-backed hackers targeted a small number of individuals of foreign intelligence interest. The company has been working closely with federal law enforcement and national security agencies to address the breach.

Collaborative Efforts

Both companies emphasized their collaboration with government officials, industry partners, and private cybersecurity firms to mitigate the impact of the breach. Verizon’s Chief General Officer, Vandana Venkatesh, highlighted that immediate actions were taken to protect customers and the network. These actions included partnering with federal law enforcement and national security agencies.

Scope of the Breach

The Salt Typhoon campaign, which began in October, targeted several U.S. telecommunications companies. U.S. officials revealed that at least nine telecom providers, including Lumen (formerly CenturyLink) and T-Mobile, were affected. The hackers specifically targeted high-profile customers in government and politics.

Government Response

The U.S. government has been actively involved in addressing the breach. Deputy National Security Adviser Anne Neuberger stated that the Chinese hacking campaign impacted nine U.S. telecommunications companies. The government is considering banning China Telecom’s last active U.S. operations and TP-Link routers if they are found to pose a national security risk.

Conclusion

AT&T and Verizon have successfully contained the Salt Typhoon breach and are no longer detecting any malicious activity on their networks. Both companies continue to monitor and remediate their networks to protect customer data. The collaborative efforts with government agencies and cybersecurity firms have been crucial in addressing this significant cyber threat.

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