The FBI and a top U.S. cybersecurity agency are urging smartphone users to avoid sending unencrypted text messages between Android and iPhone devices. This comes after a major cyberattack known as the “Salt Typhoon” breach, which affected several large U.S. telecommunications companies.
The attack, blamed on hackers linked to China, allowed them to access sensitive data, including phone call records, live conversations of specific targets, and systems used by companies to follow court orders. While iPhones and Android phones can send encrypted messages to other devices of the same type, messages between the two systems are not encrypted and are vulnerable to interception.
In response to the breach, experts from the FBI, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and other international cybersecurity agencies are recommending stronger security measures for phone users. They suggest using devices that receive regular software updates and have strong encryption, as well as enabling extra protections like multifactor authentication for accounts.
The Salt Typhoon breach is part of a larger campaign by Chinese-linked hackers targeting global telecom networks for cyber-espionage. To help prevent similar attacks, agencies have released guidelines for network engineers to improve security and protect communications infrastructure.
These warnings highlight the need for better mobile security, especially when texting across different phone platforms. Users are encouraged to take steps to protect their data and communications.
