Chinese hackers could steal information about almost every American

The Chinese cyber attack, conducted by a group of hackers known as Salt Typhoon, could lead to the stolenage of data of almost all Americans, “New York Times said on Thursday. The Chinese activities were to cover over 80 countries, and Polish services also signed under the warning in this matter.

According to the journal, citing experts and officials who examined Salt Typhoon for a year, their cyber attack was the most serious that has been discovered until now. It was to last for years, embrace over 80 countries and lead to storage of data from almost all Americans.

The newspaper draws attention to the “very unusual” joint statement in this matter, which was signed by the American National Security Agency (Supreme Administrative Court) together with services from several other countries, including the Polish Intelligence Agency (AW) and the Military Counterintelligence Service (SKW).

The statement and the report attached to him warned that the attack, about which reports appeared a year ago, turned out to be much broader than supplied. The aim of the Chinese activities was to steal information from government systems, telecommunications, transport networks, hotels or military infrastructure for the needs of creating a global spy system.

These data could allow Chinese services, including on Tracking politicians, spies or activists. Among the goals were, among others Phones of Donald Trump and vice president of JD Vance, as well as Democrat politicians. According to Senator Marek Warner, deputy head of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Chinese services could listen to telephone conversations and read uncomfortable SMSs.

The Chinese came in, among others to the systems of several Internet providers and telecommunications networks.

According to the American official cited by the newspaper, the attack shows that Beijing's abilities in cyberspace are matched by the US and their allies.

Officials conducting the investigation in the case associated the Salt Typhoon attack with at least three Chinese technology companies that have been active since at least 2019, although the operation was discovered only a year ago. These companies worked for the Chinese intelligence, civil and military services.

“Considering the width of this campaign, I can't imagine preventing any American to save her,” said former FBI Cynthia Kaiser clerk, who supervised the investigation in the Salt Typhoon case.

From Washington Oskar Górzyński (PAP)

OSK/ MAL/