By Connor Hart


Verizon Communications said Friday it has contained a cyber incident caused by a Chinese hacking operation.

The wireless carrier was one of several U.S. broadband providers to be targeted by Salt Typhoon, a stealthy hacking group tied to Chinese intelligence, last year. This group, in pursuit of sensitive information, aimed to establish a foothold within the infrastructure of cable and broadband providers, allowing it to access data stored by telecommunications companies or launch a damaging cyberattack, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Verizon determined that a small number of individuals primarily involved in government or political activity were targeted by the hack. Those people were notified of the threat actor's activity, the company said.

Hackers additionally accessed what the company called a small percentage of mobile-internet access and mobile-call records of other Verizon wireless customers. The company said it does not have reason to believe those customers were targeted, or that any banking and financial information or Social Security numbers were exposed in the hack.

"We continue to devote significant resources to further strengthen and protect our network," Chief Legal Officer Vandana Venkatesh said, adding that the incident hasn't affected the company's day-to-day operations.

Verizon worked to protect its network and customers immediately upon learning of the incident, partnering with federal law enforcement, national security agencies, industry partners and private cybersecurity firms, Venkatesh said.

The company's report that the incident is contained has been confirmed by an unnamed cybersecurity firm, it said.


Write to Connor Hart at connor.hart@wsj.com


(END) Dow Jones Newswires

01-10-25 1505ET