Amid ongoing Chinese Cyberattacks, U.S. Agencies urge citizens to adopt encrypted communication practices to safeguard sensitive information

The FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) are sounding alarms over the increasing risks of unsecured messaging, urging Americans to prioritise encrypted communications. As cyberattacks attributed to the Chinese hacking group Salt Typhoon continue to target U.S. networks, authorities warn that text messages and phone calls not using end-to-end encryption are vulnerable to interception.

While messaging between devices on the same platform, such as iPhone to iPhone or Android to Android, remains secure, cross-platform communication between iPhone and Android devices has been found to pose significant risks. This issue comes to light just as Apple’s recent adoption of Rich Communication Services (RCS) seemed poised to boost secure messaging in the U.S., competing against the growing dominance of WhatsApp. However, this new security warning puts a halt to that development, underscoring the need for encryption.

The Salt Typhoon attacks, linked to China’s Ministry of Public Security, have raised concerns about vulnerabilities in critical U.S. communications networks. Reports suggest that these cyberattacks are larger in scale than initially anticipated, with U.S. authorities now stressing the importance of adopting fully encrypted communication tools. The ongoing threat of cyber espionage has prompted the FBI to advise citizens on safer practices. A senior FBI official highlighted the need for using cell phones that automatically receive operating system updates, responsibly managed encryption, and multi-factor authentication (MFA) for email and social media accounts.

The breach is believed to have exposed a large amount of metadata from calls and texts, although it appears that the contents of these communications were not widely compromised. However, sensitive communications, especially those involving government or political figures, were specifically targeted, and their call and text contents were accessed.

CISA’s Jeff Greene further emphasised the urgency of encrypted communications, urging Americans to make use of encrypted services wherever possible to safeguard personal and national security. Both agencies are working together to combat cyber threats, urging citizens to take immediate action by implementing secure communication practices.

Encrypted communication technologies ensure that even tech giants like Apple, Google, and Meta cannot access the contents of messages, providing an additional layer of protection against surveillance and hacking. While no widespread breach of private communications has been reported, the FBI’s warnings make it clear that personal information is still at risk without robust encryption.

This growing cybersecurity threat highlights the importance of adopting encryption on every level of communication. As the Salt Typhoon group continues its attacks, experts believe the risk of further compromises will only increase, especially if citizens and government officials fail to act swiftly.

For now, the advice is clear: use encrypted messaging apps and secure phone calls to protect sensitive information from being intercepted by hackers.