Viasat, a leading satellite communications provider, has confirmed that it has been targeted by the Chinese cyber-espionage group known as Salt Typhoon. This attack adds Viasat to a growing list of telecom companies that have faced similar breaches, accentuating ongoing security challenges faced by the industry.
According to reports, the breach was first detected earlier this year, prompting Viasat to collaborate with federal authorities for a thorough investigation. The company, which offers satellite broadband services to a diverse range of sectors globally, had informed shareholders about its approximately 189,000 broadband subscribers in the U.S.
In a statement, Viasat assured stakeholders that its independent cybersecurity partner had not found any evidence suggesting that customers were impacted by the breach. The company emphasized its cooperation with government partners, noting that the sensitive nature of the information shared limits their ability to disclose further details about the incident.
Salt Typhoon is known for orchestrating cyberattacks against multiple telecom providers, including major players like AT&T and Verizon, as confirmed by U.S. agencies. While infiltrating U.S. networks, the hackers reportedly gained access to law enforcement’s wiretapping platforms, jeopardizing the privacy of a limited number of government officials. Previously, in February 2022, Viasat had also suffered a significant cyberattack attributed to Russian hackers, which disabled satellite modems and caused widespread service disruptions.
As malware threats continue to evolve, industry experts are raising alarms about the vulnerabilities within telecom infrastructures, further underlined by the recent breaches against other major service providers.