¶ Overview
Salt Typhoon, known by aliases such as Earth Estries, FamousSparrow, GhostEmperor, and UNC2286, has emerged as a significant threat actor originating from China. This group has conducted extensive cyber espionage campaigns since 2020, targeting major telecommunications companies such as AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile. The attacks, deemed some of the most severe in telecom history, involve intercepting and exfiltrating sensitive communications data, including those of government officials in Washington, D.C.
¶ Salt Typhoon Tactics
|
Exploiting System Backdoors |
Living Off the Land (LOTL) |
Data Exfiltration |
Supply Chain Attacks |
| Salt Typhoon capitalizes on lawful wiretapping backdoors within telecommunications systems to access sensitive data. | Employing existing tools within target environments to avoid detection. | Capturing call logs, unencrypted messages, and audio communications, with a focus on high-profile targets. | Compromising telecommunications providers to create downstream risks. |
¶ Protective Measures by Exium’s Unified SASE-XDR Solutions
¶ 1. Network Layer Data Encryption
Exium encrypts all traffic from devices, including mobile, using the WireGuard protocol. Operating at the network layer (Layer 3), WireGuard secures data packets with cutting-edge cryptography, providing:
|
Strong Encryption |
Streamlined Security |
Barrier to Espionage |
|---|---|---|
| Ensures data remains protected during transmission, rendering it unreadable if intercepted. | WireGuard’s minimal codebase reduces the attack surface while maintaining robust security controls. | Even if Salt Typhoon successfully infiltrates telecom networks, the encrypted traffic would be indecipherable and useless. |
¶ 2. Secure DNS Operations
Exium applies the same WireGuard encryption to DNS queries and responses, safeguarding:
|
Confidential Browsing |
Protection against Hacked Networks |
|---|---|
| Prevents telecom companies and ISPs from logging or monitoring internet browsing activities. | Shields customer data from exposure, even if mobile or wireline networks are compromised, maintaining user privacy and security. |
The image below illustrates the protections provided by the SASE solution. Traffic from mobile and remote devices is encrypted as it travels through telecommunications and ISP networks. This encryption safeguards customer data, preserving privacy and security even if mobile or wireline networks are compromised.
¶ Conclusion
Exium’s unified SASE-XDR solutions provide a comprehensive security framework to defend against sophisticated threats like Salt Typhoon. By employing network layer encryption and securing DNS operations, Exium ensures that the integrity and confidentiality of client communications remain intact, giving organizations peace of mind amid evolving cyber threats.
For more information on Exium’s solutions and how they can be tailored to fit your security needs, please contact our support team at support@exium.net.