China’s Salt Typhoon Hackers Target Dutch Telecoms, Netherlands Confirms
▼ Summary
– Dutch intelligence agencies confirmed that Chinese hacking group Salt Typhoon targeted organizations in the Netherlands, validating parts of US findings.
– The group primarily compromised routers of small Dutch internet service providers and hosting providers.
– Investigations found no evidence that the hackers penetrated deeper into the internal networks of these Dutch companies.
– Dutch agencies collaborated with the National Cyber Security Centre to share threat intelligence with affected organizations.
– The agencies warned that Chinese cyber operations require constant vigilance and proactive measures, as risks cannot be entirely eliminated.
Dutch intelligence services have confirmed that a Chinese state-sponsored hacking collective known as Salt Typhoon infiltrated telecommunications and internet service providers within the Netherlands. The announcement, made public by the Dutch Ministry of Defence, underscores a persistent and sophisticated threat to critical digital infrastructure originating from China.
In a joint assessment released on August 28, the Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIVD) and the General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD) validated earlier findings by US agencies, including the FBI and CISA. American investigators had previously identified Salt Typhoon as the actor behind a widespread cyber espionage campaign aimed at US telecom firms. Dutch authorities confirmed that similar tactics were used against targets in their own country, though the scale appeared less extensive than in the United States.
The hackers successfully compromised routers belonging to several Dutch organizations, primarily smaller internet service providers and hosting companies. Despite this unauthorized access, investigators found no indication that the intruders moved beyond these network entry points into more sensitive internal systems.
Dutch cyber agencies worked alongside the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) to disseminate actionable intelligence to affected organizations and other stakeholders. The collaboration aimed to bolster defenses and mitigate potential harm from the intrusion.
A statement from the Dutch Ministry of Defence emphasized the advanced nature of Chinese cyber operations, warning that continuous vigilance and preemptive security measures are essential to protecting national interests. It further noted that while risks can be managed, they cannot be entirely eradicated, presenting an ongoing challenge to the country’s cyber resilience.
This incident reflects a broader pattern of state-aligned cyber activity targeting telecommunications infrastructure across multiple Western nations.
(Source: NewsAPI Cybersecurity & Enterprise)
