With cyberattacks growing more sophisticated, the US government faces persistent challenges defending critical infrastructure against advanced foreign threats. In 2024, Salt Typhoon, a cyber espionage group associated with China, targeted telecommunications infrastructure across the United States, prompting new scrutiny of digital vulnerabilities and inter-agency cooperation. Observers have noticed an increase in collaboration between public entities and private companies as they build strategies to address ever-shifting cyber landscapes.
Salt Typhoon was first publicly linked to US network breaches in 2022, but recent campaigns have displayed greater persistence and impact. Earlier coverage cited fragmented security protocols and legacy technology as longstanding weaknesses in the telecommunications sector, which attackers continued to exploit in this case. Newer assessments suggest that while the methods employed by Salt Typhoon remain similar, broadening international activity underscores the urgency of adopting consistent cybersecurity fundamentals and overcoming fragmented defenses.
How Did the Salt Typhoon Campaign Succeed?
Salt Typhoon exploited outdated systems and widespread vulnerabilities within consolidated telecom networks, securing extensive unauthorized access. Despite advancements in cybersecurity, flaws in basic cyber hygiene—such as unpatched systems and inconsistent network segmentation—remained open doors for attackers. According to Michael Machtinger of the FBI, partnerships between telecom companies and federal agencies contributed to mitigating the campaign’s impact for those who responded early.
“Companies who engaged with the FBI and federal agencies like CISA early after the campaign went public have been without a doubt the most successful in mitigating the impact of the Salt Typhoon intrusions,”
Machtinger explained.
What Security Practices Are Recommended?
Cybersecurity leaders emphasize the importance of implementing proven measures, including zero trust frameworks, least-privilege access, and secure-by-design principles, to counter evolving threats. These strategies, when paired with robust end-to-end encryption, aim to reduce risks posed by both basic exploits and more advanced attacks. Machtinger noted that most breaches still start with common techniques such as phishing or targeting legacy IT, rather than sophisticated zero-day exploits.
“If we’re going to safeguard our personal and proprietary information, it is just as important for us to lock the doors inside the house as it is to lock the front door,”
he said, underscoring that even fundamental security practices remain essential.
Are Threats from Salt Typhoon Expected to Continue?
Evidence suggests that Salt Typhoon has targeted networks in more than 80 countries, maintaining a strategy of wide-reaching and often indiscriminate data collection. FBI officials warn that the campaign’s reach has not diminished, and Salt Typhoon, along with associated entities, continues to represent a persistent threat to both US public and private sectors. Machtinger conveyed the enduring risks, stating that vigilance and resilient security partnerships remain critical as adversarial tactics and attack surfaces grow increasingly complex.
Efforts to contain Salt Typhoon’s influence have highlighted the gaps in foundational cybersecurity across the industry. While the threat landscape continues to develop, history shows that basic system vulnerability and organizational fragmentation are often central to breach incidents. It has become clear that regular communication, patch management, and industry-wide cybersecurity literacy serve as the most reliable defenses against both sophisticated and unsophisticated adversaries. For companies and governments, staying ahead requires blending proactive collaboration with a rigorous commitment to fundamentals—a lesson reinforced by Salt Typhoon’s ongoing activity.
