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Chinese hackers targeted Trump and Vance’s phones
According to a New York Times report, Chinese hackers attempted to break into the cellphones of former President Donald Trump and Republican Party vice-presidential candidate Senator JD Vance. The hack reportedly targeted Trump and Vance’s data and messages via infiltration of Verizon.
LOS ANGELES – In a worrying development in the 2024 US presidential race, Chinese hackers attempted to gain access to cellphones connected to both Republican candidate Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, US officials announced.
This cyber espionage effort, described by intelligence agencies as part of a broader operation, reflects escalating concerns about foreign interference as the election approaches.
How were Trump and Harris’ campaign devices targeted?
According to sources familiar with the investigation, Chinese hackers allegedly targeted phones used by Trump, his running mate JD Vance and individuals within Harris’ campaign.
While it remains unclear what data, if any, the hackers used, the FBI continues to investigate the incident. The agency issued a statement acknowledging its investigation into “unauthorized access to commercial telecommunications infrastructure” and is working with industry partners to strengthen defenses.
The broader espionage operation behind the hack
This intrusion is just one part of a broader Chinese cyber campaign aimed at gathering information on US political figures, companies and critical infrastructure.
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Chinese hackers have been involved in multiple cyber incidents in recent years, including attempts to infiltrate telecommunications and disrupt U.S. infrastructure. The FBI has warned that groups linked to the Chinese government could attempt to destabilize vital systems if hostilities ever arise between the US and China.
US intelligence on China’s role in the elections
While China has maintained a neutral stance in the 2024 presidential race, officials believe its intelligence operations are more focused on lower-vote races.
Candidates from both parties with opposing views on Taiwan and other key policies appear to be among the targets.
In contrast, intelligence agencies report that Russia and Iran have more openly supported both candidates, potentially favoring Trump in some narratives.
Previous cybersecurity alerts and recent disruptions
This year, the FBI disclosed details of two major Chinese hacking operations. The first, Volt Typhoon, reportedly compromised numerous US routers, seeking access to infrastructure such as water treatment plants and transportation systems.
Last month, director Chris Wray also described “Typhoon Flax,” an operation targeting consumer devices at universities and government agencies with malicious software.
The response from campaigns and Chinese officials
Both Trump and Harris’ teams have addressed the attempted breaches, with Trump’s camp suggesting that foreign adversaries, including China and Iran, felt emboldened to target the U.S. electoral process.
A Chinese embassy spokesperson, meanwhile, reiterated that China has no intention of interfering in the U.S. elections, saying cyber operations targeting U.S. campaigns or communications networks would violate Chinese policy.
The Source
This article is based on reporting from an Associated Press story, as well as recent updates from U.S. cybersecurity agencies and statements from FBI Director Chris Wray.