Photo credit: arstechnica.com
The FBI has announced a reward of up to $10 million for information linked to the China-based hacking collective known as Salt Typhoon. This group has been implicated in intrusions into critical networks of several US telecommunications companies over the past year.
Salt Typhoon is one of several hacking organizations operating on behalf of the People’s Republic of China. Various intelligence agencies and cybersecurity firms have determined that it has conducted a series of espionage operations aimed at acquiring sensitive information, particularly in preparation for potential military engagements.
A comprehensive cyber offensive
In a recent statement released on Thursday, the FBI detailed its offer, which includes not just financial rewards but also potential relocation assistance and additional forms of compensation for those who might provide information regarding Salt Typhoon’s members and their infiltration into US telecom networks.
“Our ongoing investigation into these entities and their operations has uncovered a significant cyber offensive aimed at exploiting access to these networks and targeting victims worldwide,” remarked FBI officials. “This activity has led to the unauthorized acquisition of call data logs, a limited number of private communications from identified victims, and the duplication of specific information that was subject to US law enforcement oversight.”
Salt Typhoon is one of several designations used by both governmental and independent researchers to monitor this group, which has reportedly been active since at least 2019. Alternate names for the group include RedMike, Ghost Emperor, FamousSparrow, Earth Estries, and UNC2286. In recent years, Salt Typhoon has escalated its operations, notably increasing its compromises of telecommunications entities globally, including numerous breaches within the US.
Source
arstechnica.com