Link: Experts have long warned "secure backdoor" systems are impossible; Salt Typhoon's reported hack of US ISPs' wiretap systems exemplifies the risks of backdoors (Zack Whittaker/TechCrunch)

China-backed hackers have compromised the wiretap systems of several U.S. telecom and internet providers, targeting sensitive customer data. This breach, reported by major news outlets, involved accessing systems used for lawful data interception.

Mandated by a 30-year-old law, these systems grant extensive access to users' internet traffic and browsing histories. Experts have long warned about the security risks of such legally required backdoors.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the hacking group "Salt Typhoon" infiltrated networks of major providers like AT&T and Verizon. This intrusion could lead to significant intelligence gathering or worse.

The exact motives behind these hacks remain unclear, but national security sources view them as a significant threat. The situation escalates fears of potential cyberattacks amidst rising tensions between China and the United States.

Encryption advocates argue that stronger encryption is the only way to safeguard data against such vulnerabilities. “The only solution is more encryption,” stated Stanford academic Riana Pfefferkorn, highlighting that current laws compromise rather than protect user privacy.

This incident exemplifies the dangers of backdoor access as experts like Matt Blaze caution against such security measures. Despite ongoing global efforts to mandate backdoors, these continue to pose significant security risks. #

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