Salt Typhoon Cyberattacks: New Federal Cybersecurity Guidelines For Telecoms

U.S. federal agencies, including the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), National Security Agency (NSA), and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) (in coordination with similar agencies in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand), confirmed prior reports of cyber espionage against U.S. commercial telecommunications infrastructure, among other global targets, and issued updated cybersecurity guidance for telecommunications providers and other critical infrastructure organizations in response to these threats. Senior officials in the Biden administration linked the wave of attacks to Salt Typhoon, a Chinese state-sponsored hacking group known for its sophisticated infiltration of major telecommunications systems and U.S. counterintelligence operations since at least 2020. These developments underscore the immediate need for stronger cybersecurity measures to protect communications infrastructure and networks. In addition, as discussed further below, the