Singtel targeted by Chinese hackers in "test run" for attacks on US targets

• Anonymous tipsters opportunity Singtel was breached successful June 2024
• The group down nan onslaught is Volt Typhoon, a known state-sponsored actor
• Assault was reportedly a trial tally earlier attacks connected telecoms successful nan US

Infamous Chinese cyber-espionage threat character Volt Typhoon, allegedly tied to nan country’s government, breached Singtel past summer.

A study connected Bloomberg, citing “two group acquainted pinch nan matter”, claims hackers utilized a webshell to breach Singtel, which commented connected nan breach, but did not outright corroborate it.

"We understand nan value of web resilience, particularly because we are a cardinal infrastructure work provider,” Singtel said successful a statement. “That's why we adopt manufacture champion practices and activity pinch industry-leading information partners to continuously show and promptly reside nan threats that we look connected a regular basis. We besides regularly reappraisal and heighten our cybersecurity capabilities and defenses to protect our captious assets from evolving threats."

Practicing connected Singtel

The anonymous tipsters besides revealed Volt Typhoon wasn’t really that willing successful Singtel’s intel, but alternatively utilized it arsenic believe grounds, a stepping chromatic to its existent goal. Apparently, nan breach was “a trial tally by China for further hacks against US telecommunications companies.”

In early February 2024, US information agencies (CISA, NSA, FBI, and others) warned Volt Typhoon had lurked connected nan networks of captious US infrastructure firms for years acknowledgment to surviving disconnected nan onshore (LOTL) and utilizing stolen accounts.

"In fact, nan U.S. authoring agencies person precocious observed indications of Volt Typhoon actors maintaining entree and footholds wrong immoderate unfortunate IT environments for astatine slightest 5 years," nan connection said.

At nan aforesaid time, nan Chinese authorities denied each allegations, and astatine 1 constituent moreover said nan group was a CIA asset. In October 2024, nan state published a caller insubstantial claiming Volt Typhoon was a US asset, basing its conclusions on, “more than 50 cybersecurity experts” who weren’t named.

Headquartered successful Singapore, Singtel is considered 1 of Asia’s biggest telecommunications providers. It offers a wide scope of services, including mobile, broadband, and fixed-line services, not conscionable successful Singapore, but crossed nan Asia-Pacific region.

Via The Register

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