Chinese Hackers Target Phones of Trump, Vance, and Harris Campaign Associates

iexclusivenews – Chinese hackers have reportedly targeted the cellphones of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, his running mate JD Vance, and individuals associated with the Democratic campaign of Kamala Harris.

This broader espionage operation has raised significant concerns among U.S. officials, who are actively investigating the cyber threat.

Chinese Hackers’ Espionage Operation

According to sources familiar with the matter, the Chinese hackers’ operation aimed at accessing sensitive information from high-profile political candidates and their campaigns.

It remains unclear what data, if any, was accessed. U.S. officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to Associated Press, confirmed that the investigation is ongoing.

The FBI released a statement acknowledging the investigation into “unauthorized access to commercial telecommunications infrastructure by actors affiliated with the People’s Republic of China.”

The agency emphasized that various U.S. government agencies are collaborating to mitigate the threat and strengthen cyber defenses across the commercial communications sector.

Targeting High-Profile Political Campaigns

The campaigns of Trump and Vance were among the numerous targets of the larger cyberespionage operation launched by China.

The hackers’ motives remain uncertain, but Beijing has a history of engaging in extensive hacking campaigns to collect private data of Americans, government workers, and corporate secrets from major U.S. companies.

The news of the targeted political candidates comes as U.S. officials remain vigilant against foreign interference in the final stretch of the presidential campaign.

While Iranian hackers have targeted Trump campaign officials, and Russia has orchestrated disinformation campaigns favoring Trump over Harris, China is believed to be taking a neutral stance in the presidential race.

Instead, Chinese hackers are focusing on down-ballot races, targeting candidates from both parties based on their stance on key issues important to Beijing, such as support for Taiwan.

Chinese Embassy’s Response

A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Washington stated that they were not familiar with the specifics of the hacking operation and could not comment.

However, they contended that China is routinely victimized by cyberattacks and opposes such activities.

“The presidential elections are the United States’ domestic affairs. China has no intention and will not interfere in the U.S. election. We hope that the U.S. side will not make accusations against China in the election,” the statement read.

FBI’s Ongoing Efforts

The FBI has repeatedly warned about Chinese hackers operations over the past year. In January, FBI Director Chris Wray informed Congress that investigators had disrupted a state-sponsored group known as Volt Typhoon.

This operation disrupted a botnet of hundreds of U.S.-based small office and home routers owned by private citizens and companies.

The ultimate targets included water treatment plants, the electrical grid, and transportation systems across the U.S. Wray warned that Beijing was positioning itself to disrupt the daily lives of Americans if the United States and China ever go to war.

Last month, Wray revealed that the FBI had interrupted another Chinese government campaign, called Typhoon Flax, which targeted universities, government agencies, and other organizations.

This campaign installed malicious software on more than 200,000 consumer devices, including cameras, video recorders, and home and office routers.

Broader Implications

The Wall Street Journal reported that Chinese hackers had infiltrated the networks of U.S. broadband providers and potentially accessed systems used by law enforcement officials for wiretapping requests. This revelation underscores the extensive reach and sophistication of Chinese cyber operations.

As the investigation continues, U.S. officials are working diligently to uncover the full extent of the espionage operation and prevent further breaches.

The targeting of high-profile political candidates and their campaigns highlights the ongoing threat of foreign interference in U.S. elections and the need for robust cybersecurity measures.

Heightened Cybersecurity Vigilance

The targeting of Trump, Vance, and Harris campaign associates by Chinese hackers serves as a stark reminder of the persistent cyber threats facing the United States.

As U.S. officials work to mitigate these threats, the importance of cybersecurity vigilance and international cooperation in addressing cyber espionage cannot be overstated.