A Chinese hacking campaign targeted U.S. telecommunication networks, including the phones of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, his running mate JD Vance, and individuals affiliated with Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign. The campaign also targeted the staff of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. It is unclear if any communications were stolen. The FBI and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency are investigating the unauthorized access by Chinese actors. The U.S. government believes that China hacked AT&T, Verizon, and Lumen Technologies. Verizon confirmed that a sophisticated nation-state actor targeted U.S. telecommunications providers. China’s embassy denied knowledge of the situation.
There is no evidence that the hack was an attempt to influence the 2024 presidential election, unlike alleged interference by Iran and Russia. China’s cyberespionage operations are long-standing, but the Office of the Director of National Intelligence has stated that China does not seek to influence the presidential race. Reporters Kevin Collier, Ken Dilanian, and Tom Winter covered the story for NBC News. The FBI did not disclose specific targets of the hacking campaign. The Chinese embassy emphasized non-interference in U.S. elections and denied knowledge of the specific situation. The U.S. government is taking steps to investigate and address the cybersecurity breach.
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