US officials urge Americans to use encrypted apps amid unprecedented cyberattack

U.S. officials are advising Americans to utilize encrypted messaging apps in response to a significant cyberattack targeting telecommunications companies like AT&T and Verizon. This hacking campaign, referred to as Salt Typhoon by Microsoft, is one of the largest intelligence breaches in U.S. history and remains unresolved. Officials from the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) highlighted the importance of encryption to protect communications from foreign hackers, particularly from China, which has been implicated in the attacks. They noted that the hackers accessed various types of information, including call metadata and live phone calls of specific targets, but did not provide a timeline for when the telecommunications systems would be secure. Privacy advocates have long supported the use of end-to-end encrypted apps, such as Signal and WhatsApp, to safeguard communications. Despite the FBI's historical opposition to full encryption that prevents law enforcement access, they now recognize the necessity of encryption in protecting sensitive information. The officials clarified that the cyberattack was not aimed at influencing election outcomes but was a traditional espionage effort to gather intelligence on U.S. politics and government.

- U.S. officials recommend using encrypted messaging apps to protect communications amid a major cyberattack.

- The hacking campaign, named Salt Typhoon, is linked to China and has compromised significant telecommunications data.

- The FBI and CISA have not provided a timeline for when telecommunications systems will be secure.

- Privacy advocates emphasize the need for end-to-end encryption to protect sensitive information from foreign adversaries.

- The cyberattack is viewed as a cyberespionage operation rather than an attempt to sway election results.