December 6th 2024.
The FBI has recently issued a warning to the American people as the nation faces one of its biggest intelligence threats in history. A major cyberattack targeting telecommunication companies like AT&T and Verizon has occurred, leading officials to advise against using traditional text messaging. However, there is a solution to protect your data – encrypted messaging.
Known as the "Salt Typhoon" by Microsoft, this hacking campaign has successfully infiltrated eight major telecommunication and infrastructure firms in the US. According to two US officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, using encrypted messaging apps is the best way to minimize the risk of your communications being intercepted. Jeff Greene, executive assistant director for cybersecurity at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, also stresses the importance of encryption in protecting your data.
In an interview with NBC, Greene stated, "Encryption is your friend, whether it's on text messaging or if you have the capacity to use encrypted voice communication. Even if the adversary is able to intercept the data, if it is encrypted, it will make it impossible for them to access." One popular platform that offers encrypted messaging is WhatsApp.
The senior FBI official who wished to remain anonymous also gave recommendations on how to further protect mobile device communications. They suggested using a cellphone that receives regular operating system updates, along with responsible encryption and phishing-resistant multi-factor authentication for email, social media, and collaboration accounts.
But what exactly are encrypted messages and how do they work? Essentially, encrypted messages use a tool that converts information into scrambled text, which can only be decoded with a "secret key." This prevents unauthorized parties from accessing the information, as only the intended recipient with the correct decryption key can read it.
The hackers in this particular attack have accessed three types of information. The first is call records or metadata, which reveals the numbers dialed and the timing of the calls. The hackers specifically targeted records in the Washington DC area, and the FBI has no plans to notify those whose metadata was accessed. The second type of information accessed was live phone calls for specific targets, but the FBI official did not disclose how many alerts were sent out to targets of this campaign. The last type of information accessed was systems used by telecommunication companies in accordance with the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act. This allows law enforcement and intelligence agencies with court orders to track people's communications.
The overall message from the FBI is clear – do not use traditional network text messaging. Instead, they recommend using encrypted messaging platforms such as iMessage, Google Messages, WhatsApp, Signal, and "secret chats" on Telegram. By utilizing these encrypted messaging options, you can protect your data and communicate securely.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
