Telecoms hack on US government officials is 'worst in nations history' and 'the barn door is still wide open' says senator

A still from a YouTube video of Senator Mark Warner speaking — (Image credit: WUSA9)

US authorities have recently revealed a US telecommunications hack that was said to have compromised the networks of multiple communications companies.

The FBI and CISA released a joint statement earlier this month identifying "PRC (People's Republic of China)-affiliated actors" as the cause of the hack, which the US government says enabled the theft of customer call records data, and led to "the compromise of private communications of a limited number of individuals who are primarily involved in government or political activity."

"Unlike some of the European countries where you might have a single telco, our networks are a hodgepodge of old networks. The big networks are combinations of a whole series of acquisitions, and you have equipment out there that’s so old it’s unpatchable."

Andy built his first gaming PC at the tender age of 12, when IDE cables were a thing and high resolution wasn't—and he hasn't stopped since. Now working as a hardware writer for PC Gamer, Andy spends his time jumping around the world attending product launches and trade shows, all the while reviewing every bit of PC gaming hardware he can get his hands on. You name it, if it's interesting hardware he'll write words about it, with opinions and everything.