Chinese hack of US ISPs shows Apple is right about backdoors for law enforcement

Chinese hackers have successfully infiltrated the systems of three major U.S. internet service providers (ISPs)—AT&T, Lumen, and Verizon—compromising security backdoors intended for lawful wiretaps by U.S. law enforcement. This breach, attributed to the Chinese government and specifically linked to its Ministry of State Security, raises significant concerns about the security of backdoor access points created for government use. Experts suggest that the hackers may have had prolonged access to critical infrastructure used for court-authorized wiretapping, highlighting the risks associated with creating such vulnerabilities. The incident underscores Apple's longstanding position against implementing backdoors in its devices, as the company previously resisted FBI requests to create access points for law enforcement. Apple argues that any backdoor, regardless of its intended purpose, can be exploited by malicious actors, a point illustrated by this recent breach. The situation serves as a cautionary tale about the implications of compromising encryption systems, which should either be fully secure or not at all.

- Chinese hackers accessed U.S. ISPs' systems, compromising law enforcement wiretap backdoors.

- The breach is linked to China's Ministry of State Security, indicating a state-sponsored espionage effort.

- Experts warn that creating backdoors for government use can lead to vulnerabilities exploited by hackers.

- Apple has consistently opposed backdoors, citing security risks and potential misuse.

- The incident reinforces the argument that encryption systems must be fully secure to prevent exploitation.