Chinese intelligence agencies have reportedly targeted the cell phones of former U.S. President Donald Trump and his Vice President J.D. Vance in an attempt to gather compromising material. The “New York Times,” citing anonymous insiders, revealed that the Republican campaign team was informed of the attempted cyber-attack this week. Other high-profile politicians, including some from the current administration, were also targeted in these attacks, which allegedly originated from the network provider Verizon.
The FBI is investigating the unauthorized access to commercial telecommunications infrastructure by individuals connected to the People’s Republic of China. While the FBI did not disclose the specific targets of the attacks, potential victims have been notified. The “New York Times” reported that Democrats and staff from Kamala Harris’s campaign were also among the targets.
If successful, the data obtained from Trump and Vance’s phones could be a treasure trove of information, potentially revealing details of their communications. The repercussions of such a breach could be significant, especially with the upcoming U.S. election. The FBI has repeatedly warned against Chinese hacking operations in the past.