Gaurav Rathore
His write-ups blend creativity, personal experience, and tailored technical advice, meeting reader needs effectively.
Gaurav Rathore
His write-ups blend creativity, personal experience, and tailored technical advice, meeting reader needs effectively.
Can you believe that a data breach occurs roughly every 39 seconds? meaning on average, a company falls victim to a cyberattack almost constantly throughout the day.
One such incident that took place a little while back is in the country China where according to a September report 2024, Chinese government-backed hackers have compromised several US internet providers in a new attack.
Unfortunately, it was not long after this event took place, that another Chinese government-orchestrated hack called the Flax Typhoon started targeting public critical infrastructures, including cameras, routers, and more.
This recent hack, referred to as the Salt Typhoon, was geared toward collecting sensitive data and is not much focused on disrupting infrastructures.
This blog delves more into this report and provides its readers with how to keep your data safe from data leaks and other cyber threats.
The Wall Street Journal report did not explicitly name the specific internet providers targeted in the Salt Typhoon attack.
However, investigators focused on Cisco Systems routers (network components that direct internet traffic), thinking they might be the entry point for hackers.
A Cisco spokesperson denied any involvement, stating that there was no indication that Cisco routers were compromised.
According to some sources, Verizon, AT&T, and Lumen are among the internet providers affected by the Salt Typhoon attack.
Though these companies have not confirmed or denied their involvement, their status as major US telecommunications firms makes them potential targets for such attacks.
However, this information is based on unconfirmed sources, and the full extent of the attack may not be publicly known.
Do You Know?
In Q2 2024, Check Point Research saw a 30% YoY increase in cyber attacks globally, reaching 1,636 attacks per organization per week.
Telecom companies hold a lot of sensitive data that can compromise national security if it falls into the wrong hands.
The US Officials, understanding that the hacking was done to obtain sensitive information, are deeply concerned about the potential damage to national security.
The compromised data could include information related to national security investigations, wiretap warrant requests, and other sensitive intelligence.
This information could be used by foreign adversaries to gain a strategic advantage or to undermine US interests.
The Chinese Embassy has denied any involvement in the hacking attack on the US telecom providers and also accused the US of politicizing cybersecurity issues to smear China.
The relationship between the two countries has been tense over the years, specifically due to disputes over trade, technology, human rights, and more.
That’s why the recent attack has added another layer of complexity to the bilateral relationship, as both influential countries seek to protect their interests and maintain their respective positions on the global stage.
The Salt Typhoon attack has raised concerns about the security of personal information held by telecom providers, even though there is no concrete evidence publicly disclosed that the hack was directly targeted to individual customer data.
And even if it is confirmed that it wasn’t the primary target, there’s still a big risk that your data could be compromised in such a large-scale breach, and the worst thing is, you won’t even know it.
You will still have that same reliable, fast internet, but all your call records, location logs, internet usage activities, and more, are already slowly being stolen.
It’s a possibility, but right now, there are several steps you can take to add another layer of security, especially now that hackers are targeting not only mere individuals but organizations, companies, and even government databases.
Here are some tips to keep your data safe from data leaks and other cyber threats:
We all know how necessary passwords are, but they really make a difference in keeping your accounts safe.
We’re pretty sure you’ve read this a lot of times, but always make sure you use strong, unique passwords for each account, especially for anything linked to your internet provider and bank accounts.
On top of that, add two-factor authentication (2FA, so that even if someone gets your password, they still need a second layer of proof—like a text message code or your biometrics—to get in.
You may have noticed that your devices are always asking for updates, and that’s because these updates have a super vital role in keeping your data safe and secure.
These updates often come with added security features that patch up security holes hackers can exploit.
Make it a habit to update all your devices—be it your phone, computer, or even your router—as soon as new updates are available.
It only takes a few minutes, but it can protect you from a world of trouble, therefore, take advantage of the auto-update feature if it’s available so you don’t need to manually do it every single time.
Among the numerous cyber or data breach attacks, Phishing attacks are extremely common.
In this, you receive emails or messages from the hackers that appear legitimate and ask you to click on a link to avail great internet deals or enter personal info to claim a random reward, like the latest iPhone.
Therefore, to stay out of these frauds, you must always double-check the source of emails and links before clicking.
If something feels off, trust your gut and avoid it, and remember to check for “https” in the URL to make sure that the website is secure.
But keep in mind that even though a site has “https”, it doesn’t always mean it’s completely safe.
Phishers can sometimes use fake websites that appear legitimate to trick users into sharing their personal information.
Since telecom companies have been attacked, it’s always a good idea to keep an eye on what’s happening with your internet and phone usage.
Make time to check your call logs and data activity every now and then, and if you notice something strange, like calls you didn’t make or websites you didn’t visit, it could be a sign that someone has gained access to your information.
If you spot anything off, reach out to your service provider as soon as possible and get it checked out.
You must have known your router comes with a default username and password.
It would be great if you change those as soon as you can because hackers can easily find those default settings online.
Also, make sure your Wi-Fi connection is encrypted with the latest security settings (WPA3 if available).
This makes it much harder for anyone to sneak into your network without your permission.
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) can add an extra layer of protection when you’re browsing, especially on public Wi-Fi.
It encrypts your data, which makes it hard for anyone to track your online activity or steal your information.
It’s a great tool if you want more privacy when surfing the web, but the bottom line is that it’s better if you avoid connecting to public networks as much as possible.
Well, no one in this globe wants their data to get stolen or lost, unfortunately, it happens more than you can think.
That’s why it’s a good habit to regularly back up important files, be it your family photos or sensitive documents, using an external hard drive or cloud storage.
This way, even if your device gets hacked or locked by ransomware, you can restore your files without paying a ransom.
The recent hacking incident can mean a lot of things for telecom customers.
It is sadly true that we can’t 100% guarantee our security against large-scale breaches like this, but we still can take some proactive measures to strengthen our security and make it harder for these cyber criminals to succeed.
Let’s all be safe in times like these.
