Chinese government - linked operatives under the name Salt Typhoon have launched a sweeping espionage effort infiltrating telecom systems and critical infrastructure across at least 80 countries. The FBI, along with allies including Five Eyes partners and agencies from Europe and Japan, warned that since 2019 this campaign has impacted around 600 organizations - including about 200 U.S. firms spanning sectors such as telecommunications, government, military, transportation and lodging.

By exploiting known router vulnerabilities, hackers gained persistent access to network devices, enabling them to tap into phone records and wiretapping systems. Investigators estimate that over a million call logs were compromised, revealing who Americans communicated and even drawing on court-authorized surveillance platforms.

U.S. and allied agencies have issued led technical guidance to help those at risk. Beijing denies these accusations, despite mounting evidence and coordinated international response.