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CISA warns officials to use encrypted apps amid Chinese espionage concerns

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The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) of the United States issued an urgent set of guidelines for senior government officials and politicians to adopt end-to-end encrypted messaging applications. This comes after a significant breach attributed to Chinese government hackers, which compromised the private communications of approximately 150 high-ranking U.S. officials.

CISA released a comprehensive five-page advisory urging “highly targeted individuals” to assume their communications are vulnerable to interception or manipulation. The agency warned that personal and government-issued devices are at risk, underscoring the necessity for encrypted communication tools.

The advisory stems from the fallout of the Salt Typhoon breaches, a sophisticated cyber-espionage campaign that infiltrated U.S. telecommunications networks. This breach enabled hackers to access senior officials’ call records, messages, and phone data.

Among those reportedly targeted are President-elect Donald Trump, Vice President Kamala Harris’s staff, Senator Chuck Schumer, and other prominent political figures.

“Highly targeted individuals should assume that all communications between mobile devices — including government and personal devices — and internet services are at risk of interception or manipulation,” says the advisory.

The United States and China are at odds, each accusing the other of carrying out cyber attacks.

The document provides detailed guidance for securing both Apple and Android devices and stresses the “consistent use” of encryption technologies to safeguard sensitive information.

During a press briefing, The Record reports that CISA executive Jeff Greene highlighted the escalating risks posed by such breaches. Greene noted that federal efforts to enhance device security have yielded insights into threats previously undetected. “Right now, we are seeing over five million devices across 94 agencies,” he said, referencing the scope of CISA’s monitoring activities.

The breach has exposed vulnerabilities in existing telecommunications networks, prompting a coordinated effort to fortify the security of communication devices used by government officials.

Despite this, officials maintain that Chinese hackers still access some of the compromised systems.

The breach has sparked bipartisan outrage on Capitol Hill, with lawmakers demanding accountability from telecommunications companies and federal investigators. The incident has also prompted punitive measures against China, including considering banning products from TP-Link, a leading Chinese router manufacturer.

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Kumar Hemant

Kumar Hemant

Deputy Editor at Candid.Technology. Hemant writes at the intersection of tech and culture and has a keen interest in science, social issues and international relations. You can contact him here: kumarhemant@pm.me

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