Reports suggest that Chinese hackers targeted cell phones used by former President Donald Trump, his vice-presidential running mate JD Vance, and Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign. Investigators are still determining whether sensitive information was obtained from these devices, which were connected to Verizon.
The FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) announced an investigation into unauthorised access to U.S. telecommunications infrastructure, reportedly linked to entities affiliated with China. Both agencies notified affected telecommunications providers, providing assistance to contain the breach and prevent further intrusions.
This incident raises concerns about potential risks to national security, particularly with the election just weeks away. Information potentially obtained from Trump’s or Vance's phones could theoretically provide valuable intelligence or leverage for foreign influence, especially in an election context.
Trump campaign responded by blaming the White House for not preventing the intrusion, accusing the administration of failing to safeguard against foreign interference.
Verizon confirmed awareness of “a highly sophisticated nation-state actor” targeting U.S. telecommunications, underscoring the complexity and urgency of the federal investigation.
Source:
The Metro
