The FBI has launched an investigation into claims that Chinese hackers breached the iPhones of two senior U.S. presidential campaign officials. Security startup iVerify, which flagged the suspicious activity, noted changes in device settings that didn’t match normal usage patterns. Consequently, this discovery has raised concerns about potential foreign interference in the upcoming election.
Links to Prior Telecom Breach
The alleged breach may also connect to a recent hacking incident involving major U.S. telecom networks. In October, Chinese group Salt Typhoon reportedly accessed wiretap portals within networks like AT&T and Verizon. Experts believe this access could have enabled hackers to infiltrate the campaign officials’ devices. The FBI suggests one of the targeted officials had been monitored by Salt Typhoon for a prolonged period, sparking concerns about how widespread this breach may be.
Heightened Security Concerns
Although investigators haven’t confirmed if any sensitive information was stolen, this incident highlights ongoing cybersecurity risks for high-profile figures. The FBI’s investigation aims to determine how these devices were compromised and whether other campaign officials could face similar threats. As a result, this breach has led to discussions about improving security protocols for political campaigns.
The situation underscores the vulnerabilities that even advanced devices can face in today’s threat landscape. With the FBI’s probe underway, experts emphasize the need for heightened cybersecurity vigilance to protect both national security and future election campaigns from foreign interference.
