On October 3, 2024, as Chinese national flags were displayed for National Day celebrations in Chongqing, China, a cyberattack linked to the Chinese government targeted U.S. broadband providers, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal. The attack was said to have breached networks used for wiretap requests, potentially allowing China to access information on the American federal government's court-authorized network wiretapping requests.
The Wall Street Journal cited sources familiar with the matter who suggested that the hackers may have had access to these networks for an extended period, raising concerns about the security of U.S. systems in the event of a conflict between China and the U.S. The Chinese government has denied allegations of using hackers to access government information, despite claims from Western governments and technology companies.
The cyber breach, reportedly carried out by the Chinese hacking group Salt Typhoon, has been described as posing serious national security risks. The FBI declined to comment on the matter when approached by CNBC for a response.
This incident highlights the ongoing concern over cyber threats and the potential implications for national security. As tensions between China and the U.S. continue, such cyberattacks raise questions about the extent to which sensitive information may be compromised and the need for heightened cybersecurity measures to protect against future breaches.