Your Text Messages at Risk
A major hack involving several of the biggest U.S. telecom companies has brought up alarming concerns about the security of text messages at risk. At least eight major telecom firms, including AT&T, Verizon, and Lumen Technologies, have been breached in a large-scale cyberattack attributed to a group of hackers known as Salt Typhoon. This breach also affects several countries and exposes sensitive data, including private text messages and phone conversations of possibly thousands of Americans.
How the Hack Happened and Its Impact on Text Messages
The breach, classified as a Chinese hacking campaign by U.S. officials, has exposed weaknesses in telecommunications networks worldwide. Texts at risk are a product of this attack because regular SMS texts do not have good encryption. Security experts warn that hackers will find it quite easy to intercept these messages, which may put personal communications in danger.
Kate Robertson, a senior researcher with the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab, said this incident wasn’t isolated. She elaborated on how legal “backdoors” in devices or applications for government wiretapping purposes can be the easiest means by which hackers gain unauthorized access and even control over all communication, even the entire communication network. Global connectivity, including those involving international calls and roaming, makes telecom network security particularly tricky. Check out the Canadian Center cyber report with the US.
Why SMS Text Messages Are So Vulnerable
While phishing and email scams are a concern for many, text messages vulnerable to interception are rarely thought of as a security risk. Experts say SMS text messages are not secure because they are not encrypted. Andrew Kirsch, a former intelligence officer, said this breach puts a spotlight on the growing vulnerability in our telecommunications infrastructure, which includes phone calls and text messages.
Experts also suggest taking care of the security of your communications by using encrypted messaging apps. Signal and WhatsApp, for example, are apps that offer end-to-end encryption to make messages completely secure from interception by hackers or any other unauthorized person. These solutions are way more secure than regular SMS over cellular.
Things You Can Do to Safeguard Your Text Messages
As text messages are increasingly at risk of interception, here are a few proactive steps to safeguard your privacy:
Use Secure Messaging Apps: Download and use either Signal or WhatsApp. These services offer encryption for messages, meaning only you and the intended recipient can read the messages, not anyone intercepting them.
Avoid SMS for sensitive information; if you are using regular SMS, treat it like a postcard-never send sensitive or confidential information via text message. Once you have sent it, you don’t have any control over that data.
- Be Vigilant: Be suspicious of those unsolicited links in your text message. They may be phishing attempts to take away personal information. Always confirm the sender before responding to such messages.
- Ensure Device Security: Regularly update your phone’s security settings and ensure that you’re using secure forms of communication, especially when discussing sensitive information.
- Moving Forward: Strengthening Telecom Security
As the concern related to the text messages being at risk grows, experts ask for better security measures within the telecommunications industry. According to Citizen Lab’s Gary Miller, the current security standards used in the telecom networks are extremely low. The industry needs more accountability and strict security regulations so it cannot have any future breaches compromise user data.
Moreover, the telecom companies have an uphill task of trying to make the networks safe from a hack. Companies such as Bell, Rogers, and Telus have since announced investigations to ensure their networks aren’t compromised. But due to the lack of transparency regarding accountability and timely measures, they doubt the effectiveness of security measures against breach incidents.
The recent hack of U.S. phone companies is a wake-up call to the vulnerabilities in our communications systems, particularly with text messages at risk. To protect your privacy, use encrypted messaging apps, avoid sharing sensitive information through SMS, and stay vigilant against potential threats. With the increasing scrutiny on the telecom industry, there has never been a better time to take your digital security into your hands and ensure private conversations stay private.
