‘Encryption is your friend,’ says Jeff Green, CISA cert.
A government US cybersecurity expert and two senators have urged US citizens and government agencies to value encryption when messaging each other amid recent Chinese cyberattacks and intrusions.
Speaking to Newshounds on Tuesday, Jeff Green, executive director of cybersecurity for the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Company (CISA), said US citizens should be aware that “our advice is to avoid using plaintext.”
Plaintext refers to readable information that is not encrypted, encoded, or obfuscated in any other way.
“Our suggestion, what we’ve told people internally, is not new here: Encryption is your friend, whether it’s on text messaging or if you have the ability to use encrypted voice communications. Even if the adversary is able to intercept the data, if it is encrypted, it will make it impossible to do so,” Green told multiple media outlets.
Green’s comments on encrypted shouting and messaging offered through Signal and Meta platforms’ WhatsApp means that Chinese-language hackers may remain hidden in telecommunications companies’ networks for some time.
When asked about a timeline for when Chinese hackers might be booted from U.S. telecom networks, Greene said, “It would be impossible for us to predict when we will have complete removal. “
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The people reportedly focused on include President-elect Donald Trump, Vice President-elect J.D. Vance and Senate Majority Major Chuck Schumer, he said in his letter to Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Eric Schmidt (R- Mohd.) is mentioned. ,
In his message to the DOD, he also warned over the Pentagon’s “continued use” of non-secure platforms such as Microsoft Groups and “unencrypted landline phones” within the company. He also recommended encrypted platforms like Signal, WhatsApp, and iPhone FaceTime.
Despite the fact that it is not primary, while senior US officials have recommended encryption, a data-scrambling method that is helping to protect communications from snoopers, it is a major rift with earlier government messaging. Is.
“Let me be clear: The FBI supports information security measures, including strong encryption. But information security programs need to be thoughtfully designed so that they do not undermine the legitimate tools needed to keep this country safe,” Ray said at a match in 2018.
Tech companies and cybersecurity experts have said measures allowing law enforcement officials access to data from encrypted devices and technologies would weaken cybersecurity for all users.
Green’s response comes after US government agencies issued guidance on December 3 to prevent Chinese intrusion into US telecommunications. Washington has voiced growing fear over Beijing’s efforts to work with T-Cell to penetrate deeper into American telecommunications companies and borrow information about American outcry.
US officials have also said that hackers stole phone audio intercepts, including a large batch of call record data. Officials said the data primarily includes families from the Washington branch.
Brian Vorndran, an FBI official, warned that “threat actors” associated with the Chinese Communist regime have targeted commercial telecommunications providers to “compromise sensitive data and engage in cyber espionage” against American companies.
Reuters contributed to this file.
