Chinese hackers have reportedly gained unauthorized access to the phones of former President Donald Trump, Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, and individuals connected to Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign. The breach, allegedly linked to Chinese intelligence services, involved infiltrating U.S. telecommunications networks, giving the hackers deep access to sensitive devices and data. Federal investigators have been working with private-sector partners to identify the extent of the attack, which is said to impact dozens of companies and individuals.
The hackers’ tactics have raised serious concerns, as they attempted to re-access secured systems even after federal agencies had locked them out. Although it remains unclear what information, if any, was extracted, the aggressive re-entry attempts have unsettled investigators, marking one of the boldest cyber-espionage campaigns in recent history.
In a parallel cybersecurity crisis, Change Healthcare, a UnitedHealth Group subsidiary, experienced the largest healthcare data breach in U.S. history in February. Over 100 million individuals were affected by this ransomware attack, which compromised sensitive personal, medical, and financial data. This massive breach highlights the escalating stakes in cybersecurity, especially when targeting key infrastructure and prominent figures. The ramifications could reshape U.S. security policies in response to an increasing wave of cyber intrusions.
Sources:
- Chinese Hackers Targeted Phones: AP News
- Biggest US Healthcare Hack: TechCrunch