Chinese hackers have stolen data from cellphones used by former President Donald J. Trump and his running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio, as part of what appears to be a broader intelligence-gathering operation. on Friday, a person familiar with the matter said on Friday.
Investigators are wondering what communications data was obtained or observed in the sophisticated intrusion into communications systems, according to people familiar with the active and highly sensitive national security case, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The company is currently working to find out if it exists.
The type of cell phone information used by presidential candidates and their running mates could be a gold mine for intelligence agencies. Who they called and texted, how often they communicated with certain people, and how long they talked with those people can be invaluable. against an enemy like China. This type of communication data could be even more useful if hackers could observe it in real time.
Officials said the Trump campaign was informed this week that Trump and Vance were among a number of people inside and outside the government whose phone numbers were targeted in a breach of Verizon’s phone system.
Targets include Democrats, including prominent figures on Capitol Hill and possibly Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign staff, according to people briefed on the matter. .
The targeting of Presidential Ticket communications highlights the aggressiveness, scope and potential severity of the hacking attack, which Western cybersecurity experts say was carried out by a group they call Salt Typhoon. I’m thinking.
While the investigation continues, the FBI and national security officials have indicated they are deeply concerned about the potential for a data breach and the potential for widespread victimization.
The FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency did not specify who was targeted, but the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency issued a joint statement attributing the hack to “persons with ties to the People’s Republic of China.”
The two agencies said they are “working together to proactively mitigate this threat and are working with industry partners to strengthen cyber defenses across the commercial communications sector.” They said they provided information to potential victims.
It’s unclear whether the hackers were able to access text messages, especially messages sent through unencrypted channels.
Trump campaign officials said the hackers may still be in Verizon’s systems, but it is unclear whether they are actively trying to exfiltrate data. In a hacking investigation, observing hacker activity within a compromised system can provide investigators with valuable information.
Data on communications between presidential candidates and vice presidential candidates, even if they do not include the content of calls or messages, could allow adversaries like China to identify people in Trump’s inner circle and target them for influence operations. may be useful.
Although the revelations came late in the campaign, Mr. Trump’s team was also targeted by Iranian hackers, who repeatedly sent spear-phishing emails to Mr. Trump’s inner circle and, at least in part, They had succeeded in accessing the camp’s communications and documents.
Security around Trump has also been strengthened in response to an assassination threat from Iran.
A Trump campaign spokesperson did not directly say whether the phones used by Trump and Vance were targeted. But in a statement, Press Secretary Stephen Chan criticized the White House and Harris, seeking to accuse them of allowing the campaign to be targeted by foreign adversaries.
Earlier this year, security officials discovered the presence of a Chinese-linked hacker group in U.S. telecommunications systems. But investigators only recently determined that the hackers were targeting specific phone numbers, officials said.
The hackers’ intrusion extends beyond the 2024 political campaign, appears to have targeted multiple people, and could have far-reaching implications for national security, according to people familiar with the investigation. was suggested.
Investigations into the scope of the hack and the damage to national security are in the early stages. It’s difficult to know whether such an attack would be able to monitor or record phone conversations; for example, whether a hacker could read or intercept texts could depend on which messaging apps the target used and their data. Much depends on how you moved through your phone company. system.
The Wall Street Journal reported last month that a cyberattack linked to the Chinese government penetrated the networks of some U.S. broadband providers and may have been able to obtain information from systems used by the federal government in its FISA court wiretapping operations. It was reported that there is.
In a statement, Verizon spokesperson Rich Young said the company was “in response to reports that highly sophisticated nation-state actors are targeting multiple U.S. telecommunications providers for intelligence gathering purposes. I am aware of that,” he said. He said Verizon is assisting law enforcement with their investigation and working to address any continuing issues.
Glenn Thrush, Adam Goldman and Julian Barnes contributed reporting.
