What Can We Learn From Recent Telecom Hacks
Cyber Defense Magazine, Tuesday, April 29th, 2025
In early November, it was reported that Singapore telecommunications company, Singtel, had been compromised by Volt Typhoon, a hacking group considered to be backed by the Chinese state. While details about the intrusion remain limited, no data is thought to have been stolen.
However, the attack signaled a wider threat to the world, as it was believed to be a trial run for China's cyber capabilities before moving on to other nations.
Unfortunately, numerous reports from the U.S. government at the end of 2024 revealed otherwise. Salt Typhoon, another Chinese state-sponsored hacking group, had already infiltrated U.S. telecommunications networks, in some cases for as long as 18 months. This significant cyber espionage campaign allowed them to gather a vast amount of confidential information, including data on over a million people and communications involving high-ranking officials and key locations like Washington, D.C.