What to know about string of US hacks blamed on China

In recent news, US officials have reported that hackers believed to be linked to the Chinese government have successfully breached the security of several major telecommunications companies and various US government agencies. This latest hacking incident was made public on a Monday, revealing that the hackers managed to access employee workstations and some unclassified documents. Despite these allegations, China has denied any involvement in these cyber-attacks. This incident is part of a larger pattern of cyber-attacks that have been occurring against US and other Western targets in recent months. So, what exactly has been hacked? The hack of the treasury department came after reports surfaced in late October that two significant US presidential campaigns were also targeted. The FBI, along with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (Cisa), stated that the hacking of the White House campaigns was executed by 'actors affiliated with the People's Republic of China. ' In September, there were reports of a hacking operation that successfully breached the security of leading telecommunications firms. The White House has confirmed that at least nine companies were hacked, including major telecom giants like AT&T and Verizon. Earlier in the year, in March, there was a long-term hacking operation that lasted for at least 14 years, targeting foreign critics of China, as well as businesses and politicians. Additionally, operations linked to China have also targeted the UK's Electoral Commission and the parliaments of both the UK and New Zealand. Who are these hackers? While the full details of the hacking groups have not been disclosed, it appears that several different units are involved, all of which US authorities claim are connected to the Chinese state. Security firms have given these hacking groups various nicknames. For instance, the group responsible for the telecoms hack is most commonly referred to as Salt Typhoon, a name assigned by researchers at Microsoft. Other firms have labeled it as Famous Sparrow, Ghost Emperor, and Earth Estrie. Salt Typhoon is believed to be the group behind the telecoms hack, while another group, known as Volt Typhoon, is also involved in hacking activities. The seven Chinese citizens who have been charged with hacking are linked by US justice department officials to an operation known as Zirconium or Judgment Panda. The UK's National Cyber Security Centre has indicated that this same operation targeted the emails of UK parliamentarians in 2021. What information was collected during these hacks? The most recent hacking incidents seem to have been focused on powerful individuals, aiming to gather data that could be beneficial to the Chinese government. Among those targeted were the phones of President-elect Donald Trump, Vice-President-elect JD Vance, and individuals working for Vice-President Kamala Harris's campaign. The hackers also gained access to a database containing phone numbers that are subject to law enforcement wiretaps, which experts believe could be used to identify foreign spies under surveillance. Furthermore, millions of Americans may have had their personal data compromised due to the attacks on telecommunications companies. Richard Forno, assistant director of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County Cybersecurity Institute, stated that the Chinese efforts are directed at a wide range of targets. He explained, 'It's more generic information gathering, let's see what we can get into, and see what we can find.