Chinese hackers have targeted the phones of former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Senator JD Vance, as part of a broad intelligence-gathering operation, according to sources familiar with the matter. The penetration of Verizon phone systems allowed the hackers to potentially access valuable information such as call and text data, which could be highly useful to a foreign adversary. The Trump campaign was informed of the breach, which also affected Democrats including Vice President Kamala Harris’s team and prominent Capitol Hill figures. The FBI and cybersecurity agencies are investigating the attack, which they attribute to “actors affiliated with the People’s Republic of China.” The extent of the compromised data and potential victims remains unclear, but the incident highlights the aggressive and far-reaching nature of the hacking campaign.
The revelation comes as Trump’s campaign has also faced Iranian hacking attempts, underscoring the need for heightened security measures. The investigation is in its early stages, and it’s uncertain whether the hackers could have monitored or recorded phone conversations or read texts, depending on the messaging apps used. Verizon is cooperating with law enforcement and working to address any ongoing issues. This incident has significant national security implications and raises concerns about the vulnerability of political figures’ communications.
Original article: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/25/us/politics/trump-vance-hack.html
