Lumen Telco Confirms Its Network Cleared of China-Linked Salt Typhoon Hackers

Posted: 6:03 AM PST · December 31, 2024

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As the year comes to a close, US telco Lumen has made a significant announcement regarding its network security. The company has confirmed that it has successfully ejected China’s notorious Salt Typhoon hackers from its system.

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Background on the Salt Typhoon Hackers

The Salt Typhoon hacking group has been making headlines in recent months due to its alleged involvement in compromising several US telecommunications firms. According to reports, at least nine US telcos have been targeted by the Chinese hacking group, with Lumen being one of them.

Lumen’s Response to the Breach

In an exclusive interview with TechCrunch, a spokesperson for Lumen, Mark Molzen, confirmed that the company had taken swift action to eject the Salt Typhoon hackers from its network. "We can confirm that our network is now clear of any Chinese actors associated with the Salt Typhoon group," Molzen stated.

Independent Forensic Analysis

To verify the authenticity of Lumen’s claim, an independent forensic analysis was conducted on the company’s system. The results of this analysis confirmed that the Salt Typhoon hackers had indeed been removed from the network.

No Evidence of Customer Data Breach

Lumen has also assured its customers that there is no evidence to suggest that any customer data was accessed during the breach. "We take the security and integrity of our customers’ data extremely seriously, and we are relieved that this incident did not result in any unauthorized access," Molzen emphasized.

Other US Telcos Affected by Salt Typhoon Hackers

Lumen’s confirmation comes after AT&T and Verizon, two other major US telcos, revealed that they too had been compromised by the Salt Typhoon hackers. Both companies confirmed to TechCrunch that a small number of high-profile customers had their communications accessed.

T-Mobile, another target of the Salt Typhoon hacking group, stated last month that it had no evidence of hackers still in its systems.

US Officials Provide Update on Affected Individuals

According to US officials, less than 100 individuals were targeted by the Salt Typhoon hackers. Most of these individuals were high-ranking US officials and politicians based in Washington, D.C.

Key Takeaways from the Lumen Breach

US Telcos Under Attack: At least nine US telcos have been compromised by the Chinese hacking group Salt Typhoon.
Swift Action Taken: Lumen has confirmed that it took swift action to eject the hackers from its network, with an independent forensic analysis verifying their claims.
No Evidence of Customer Data Breach: Lumen assures customers that there is no evidence to suggest any unauthorized access to customer data.