US government officials have revealed that the China-backed hacking group known as Salt Typhoon is still present in the networks of America's largest phone and internet providers, weeks after the long-running hacking campaign was first exposed. This disturbing news has sparked concerns over national security and surveillance, as the hackers continue to access sensitive information.

The hacking group, believed to be sponsored by the Chinese government, was initially discovered in October to have infiltrated the networks of major telecom companies, including AT&T, Verizon, and Lumen (formerly CenturyLink). T-Mobile reported being targeted but claimed to have largely rebuffed the attackers. The access granted the hackers real-time access to unencrypted calls and text messages, as well as metadata about the communications, including who they were sent to and from.

The motivations behind the hacking campaign are still unclear, but US officials suspect that China may be attempting to carry out a wide-ranging spying operation. The hackers were found to be accessing the communications of US officials and senior Americans, including presidential candidates. Furthermore, Salt Typhoon is believed to be targeting systems that house much of the US government's requests, which could help identify Chinese individuals under US government surveillance.

In response to the ongoing threat, officials from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) urged Americans to use encrypted messaging apps to protect their communications from interception by Chinese spies or other hacking groups. "Encryption is your friend; whether it's on text messaging or if you have the capacity to use encrypted voice communication," said a CISA official.

End-to-end encrypted messaging apps like Signal and WhatsApp are recommended as a secure alternative to traditional messaging services. These apps prevent anyone, including the app makers, from accessing the communications of its users. The US government has also provided guidance for telecom networks on how to harden their networks against the China-backed hackers, acknowledging that each victim company's remediation efforts will be unique.

The ongoing presence of Salt Typhoon in US telecom networks raises significant concerns about national security and the potential for large-scale surveillance. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how effectively the affected companies will be able to evict the hackers and prevent future breaches. In the meantime, individuals are advised to take proactive steps to protect their online communications.

The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of cybersecurity in today's digitally connected world. As the threat landscape continues to evolve, it is essential for individuals, businesses, and governments to remain vigilant and take necessary measures to protect sensitive information from falling into the wrong hands.