China Suspected in Massive Cyberattack: Every American May Be Impacted

A Digital Storm Strikes—and No One May Have Escaped

What began as yet another suspicion of Chinese cyberactivity has now been revealed as one of the most extensive digital attacks in history. The group Salt Typhoon, backed by the Chinese government, is behind a coordinated cyber offensive that may have stolen data from virtually every American—as well as citizens in over 80 other countries, according to Western intelligence agencies.

It’s not just individuals who have been affected. Critical sectors such as telecom operators, transportation, government systems, and even military networks have been infiltrated. This makes the attack unique in both scale and depth. According to a joint statement from the U.S., the U.K., and several other countries, it’s clear this is no longer a matter of targeted hacks—but a trove of data taken indiscriminately, regardless of who the victims are.

A New Era for Chinese Cyberwarfare

“I can’t imagine any American has come through unscathed,” said Cynthia Kaiser, former head of the FBI’s cyber division. She was involved in investigating the attack, now considered a milestone in Chinese cyber capabilities.

What distinguishes Salt Typhoon from previous attacks is not only its reach but also its technological sophistication. Jennifer Ewbank, former CIA deputy director for digital innovation, calls it “a new chapter,” in which China not only steals data, but increasingly uses it for surveillance and geopolitical influence.

The President’s Phone—and Your Data

The attack also hit the highest levels of American politics. Both Donald Trump’s and JD Vance’s phones were compromised during their election campaigns, allowing hackers to read text messages and eavesdrop on calls. And if the nation’s top leadership can be breached, what does that say about ordinary citizens?

Although there is still no confirmed evidence of private individuals’ data being abused, it raises the question of whether our digital security is robust enough at all to withstand state-sponsored actors.

What Now?

It is now clear that Salt Typhoon is not a standalone attack, but a sign of a strategic, long-term effort by Chinese authorities. It’s no longer just about stealing patents or emails—but about building a global surveillance apparatus.

As Anne Neuberger of the Biden administration wrote: “This reflects a deeper, troubling reality… China is positioning itself to dominate the digital battlefield.”

Our team may have used AI to assist in the creation of this content, which has been reviewed by our editors.