The “Ghost” in the Router: Analyzing the Salt Typhoon Telecom Attack
Today, we’re looking into a massive state-backed cyber spying case that’s been unfolding over the last couple of years: the Salt Typhoon telecom infiltration. While the first reports surfaced in 2024, the full picture emerging in 2026 shows just how deep these hidden “backdoors” into global communication networks really go. As a cybersecurity analyst, cases like this worry me the most — not because they are loud, but because they stay invisible for years. In simple terms, Salt Typhoon didn’t just break in — they moved in. They didn’t steal your wallet instead, they made a duplicate key to the room where all your phone calls and messages are managed. And worse, they turned the network’s own tools against it. Incident Overview Target: Major telecommunications providers, including Verizon, AT&T, and Lumen Technologies. Threat Actor: Salt Typhoon — a highly sophisticated group linked to Chinese state intelligence. Impact: Silent, long-term data collection, including Call Det...