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Blanche is the second of two Trump attorneys believed to be targeted by foreign hackers. Chinese hackers have also targeted other top figures in Trump’s orbit, including Trump himself and the vice president-elect, Sen. JD Vance. The sophisticated hacking effort has unnerved national security officials because of the deep access that the Chinese hackers have gotten to prominent Americans’ call and phone records. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, for example, has directed its employees to only use Microsoft Teams and Cisco WebEx to conduct work-related business involving non-public information, a CFPB spokesperson told CNN on Thursday. There is no evidence that the CFPB has been specifically targeted by the hackers, the spokesperson said.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Todd Blanche, Blanche, Lindsey Halligan, Trump, Sen, JD Vance, Jared Kushner, Eric Trump, Harris, Walz, Biden, ”, Cisco WebEx Organizations: CNN, FBI, Democrats, Trump, AT, Verizon, Consumer Financial Protection, Microsoft, Cisco, Street Journal

The hackers also targeted prominent Democrats including the staff of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, another source briefed on the matter told CNN. There are no indications anyone was able to access data related to Jared Kushner or his devices, a person familiar with the matter told CNN. The Trump campaign is operating under the assumption that the hackers could still have access to the phone communications they targeted that belong to Trump and Vance, two of the sources said. Given how pervasive the Chinese hacking campaign has been in US telecom networks, some US allies are checking their own computer networks for signs of compromise. The ongoing Chinese hacking campaign means that the next administration — whether Trump or Harris wins — will likely inherit another major cybersecurity incident with big implications for national security.

Persons: Eric Trump’s, Jared Kushner’s, Donald Trump’s, Trump, JD Vance, Harris, Walz, Chuck Schumer, Eric Trump, Kushner, ‘, ’, Eric’s, Lara, Ivanka Trump, Kamala, Biden, Jared Kushner, Vance, ” Sen, Mark Warner, —, Joe Biden, Ted Barrett, Natasha Bertrand, Kaitlan Collins, Kristen Holmes Organizations: CNN, Republican, Democratic, FBI, The New York Times, AT, Verizon, Trump, Investigators, Justice Department, Department of Justice, Huawei, Republican National Committee, Embassy, US, Infrastructure Security Agency, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Department of Homeland Security, DHS, Virginia Democrat Locations: Beijing, China, Washington ,, People’s Republic of China, United Kingdom

☆ Chinese hackers targeted Trump and Vance’s phone data
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-25 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | Kristen Holmes | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The Chinese hackers also targeted people affiliated with the Harris-Walz campaign, another source familiar with the matter told CNN. US officials informed the Trump campaign this week that Trump and Vance were among a group of people whose phones were targeted by the Chinese hackers, one of the sources said. In a statement, Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung attacked the Harris campaign for allegedly emboldening China. The activity is part of a much broader Chinese hacking campaign that has infiltrated multiple US telecommunications firms in the last several months. US officials have briefed members of the House and Senate intelligence committees on the Chinese hacking campaign.

Persons: Donald Trump, Vance, Harris, Walz, Trump, Steven Cheung, “, CISA “, ” Sen, Mark Warner, Mark Green Organizations: CNN, Senior Biden, U.S, Government, FBI, Infrastructure Security Agency, The New York Times, Justice Department, Trump, Major, Verizon, Lumen, Typhoon, Virginia Democrat, House Homeland Security, ”, Tennessee Republican Locations: China, People’s Republic of China, Iran, Russia

☆ AI and robots take center stage at ‘world’s largest tech event’
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-21 | by ( Yara Enany | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —A year after Collins Dictionary named “AI” its word of the year, the buzz around artificial intelligence is only getting louder. AI and robotics were the big themes at Gitex Global, which bills itself as the world’s largest tech event and ran Monday to Friday last week at Dubai’s World Trade Centre. “I think what (was) very exciting this year (was) the focus on AI and deep tech,” said Trixie LohMirmand, executive vice president of Dubai World Trade Centre and CEO at KAOUN International, which organizes the event. Several companies launched new products at this year’s show, including Dubai-based deep tech company Xpanceo, which debuted the new prototypes of its smart contact lenses. A prototype of an Xpanceo contact lens at Dubai's Gitex.

Persons: ”, Trixie LohMirmand, Patrick Dennis, hasn’t, Gitex, “ Organizations: CNN, Collins, Trade, Dubai World Trade Centre, KAOUN, Avaya, Gulf Computer, United Arab Locations: Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Germany, Singapore, Morocco, South Korea, Nigeria

☆ Chinese hackers access US telecom firms, worrying national security officials
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-05 | by ( Sean Lyngaas | Evan Perez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

US officials are concerned about the potential national security damage done by the hacking, which they only recently discovered. US law enforcement agencies request access, through a warrant, to specific portions of that data as part of criminal and national security investigations. US officials have briefed the House and Senate intelligence committees on the Chinese hacking campaign, two sources said. The Chinese hacking team in question is known in the cybersecurity industry as Salt Typhoon. FBI Director Christopher Wray has said that Chinese government-backed hackers outnumber FBI cyber personnel 50 to 1.

Persons: Lumen, Liu Pengyu, Christopher Wray, Antony Blinken, Xi Jinping, Joe Biden Organizations: CNN, Verizon, Lumen, Justice Department, FBI, Embassy, ”, Street Journal, Microsoft, Google Locations: China, Washington, Beijing, Washington ,, Taiwan, California

☆ DirecTV and Dish Network are combining to form a pay-TV titan
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-30 | by ( Tom Carter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

DirecTV said Monday it has agreed to acquire Dish Network from EchoStar. AdvertisementDirecTV announced Monday that it has agreed to acquire rival Dish Network from EchoStar, in a deal that would create one of the largest pay-TV providers in the US. The deal will see DirecTV acquire EchoStar's video distribution business — which includes Dish and Sling TV — for $1 and assume around $9.75 billion of Dish's debt, the companies said. The deal also comes at a challenging time for the pay-TV industry, with DirecTV and Dish being squeezed by streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. AdvertisementIt said consumers were "cutting the cord" and ditching satellite TV for streaming services, with DirecTV and Dish collectively losing 63% of their satellite customers since 2016.

Persons: — Organizations: DirecTV, Dish Network, EchoStar, Service, AT, TPG, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Dish Locations: EchoStar

☆ The 'crazy' fix for Google's monopoly that investors are whispering about
▼ + stars: | 2024-08-14 | by ( Alistair Barr | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The idea is that the US would require Google to make its Search index publicly available for anyone to use. AdvertisementBots and indexesA Search index is created by a bot crawling the web and collecting keywords and other information from sites. Related storiesGoogle's Search index is the biggest in the world. The Search index as part of the public commonsWouldn't this be taking something that belongs to Google, though? In the same way Bing powers DuckDuckGo, Google's open index could power other rival search engines that could offer different approaches to Google's search engine.

Persons: —, It's, wouldn't, it's, Amit Mehta's, Bing, DuckDuckGo Organizations: Service, Justice Department, Business, Google, Rivals, Mobile Virtual Network, Verizon, DOJ

☆ Truist's chief strategist just downgraded the tech sector amid its most extreme outperformance since 2002. Here are 2 sectors he recommends investing in instead.
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-01 | by ( Christine Ji | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Read previewAfter Big Tech's meteoric rise in the stock market, valuations may be coming back down to earth. Elevated Big Tech valuationsThe stock market is incredibly narrow, with just a few mega-cap tech stocks driving the market rally. Overall, the tech sector has risen by roughly 40% since November 2023. AdvertisementTruistAccording to Lerner, tech valuations are overheating in the short term, fueled by investor optimism. The tech sector's forward P/E has increased 19% just since May 1st of this year, jumping from 26x to 31x.

Persons: —, Keith Lerner, Lerner Organizations: Service, Nvidia, Apple, Google, Business, Utilities, P Telecom, US Telecommunications ETF, Vanguard Utilities Index Fund

The AT&T logo is seen on a store in Golden, Colorado United States July 25, 2017. REUTERS/Rick Wilking/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSTOCKHOLM, Dec 4 (Reuters) - AT&T (T.N) said on Monday it plans to use so-called ORAN technology for 70% of its wireless network traffic in the United States by late 2026 and will move from two telecom vendors to one. While the technology has been tested by several telecom providers, it has not been widely adopted. AT&T's push for the technology will likely be a major boost for Open RAN. The U.S. telecom company's spending could approach roughly $14 billion over the five-year term of the contract with that one vendor, the company said.

Persons: Rick Wilking, Supantha Mukherjee, Matthew Lewis Organizations: Golden , Colorado United, REUTERS, Rights, Open RAN, Ericsson, Nokia, Thomson Locations: Golden ,, Golden , Colorado United States, ORAN, United States, U.S, Stockholm

New networks by Dish (DISH.O) and Japan's Rakuten (4755.T) use Open RAN. "All of the new equipment that we are going to be putting out will be Open RAN capable," Chris Sambar, president of AT&T Network, told Reuters. Winning the Open RAN deal will make Ericsson the largest supplier to AT&T as it slowly takes over Nokia's share, the company said. AT&T will still have contracts which other Open RAN vendors outside this deal. AT&T expects fully integrated Open RAN sites operating in coordination with Ericsson and Fujitsu (6702.T), starting in 2024.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Japan's Rakuten, Chris Sambar, Sambar, You've, Supantha Mukherjee, Matthew Lewis Organizations: New York Stock Exchange, REUTERS, Rights, Ericsson, Nokia, Huawei, Telefonica, Vodafone, RAN, AT, T Network, Reuters, Samsung, Verizon, U.S ., Fujitsu, Thomson Locations: New York, U.S, ORAN, United States, Stockholm

☆ US telecom board says it could boost authority over Huawei, ZTE equipment
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

Sept 28 (Reuters) - Federal Communications Commission Chair Jessica Rosenworcel said on Thursday that the agency's proposal to reinstate net neutrality rules could give it new authority to force the removal of Chinese-based Huawei (HWT.UL) and ZTE (000063.SZ) equipment from U.S. networks, including data centers. The 129-page proposal asks for public input if the new rules would give the FCC "more robust authority to require more entities to remove and replace covered Huawei and ZTE communications equipment and services" and if the authority would allow it to prohibit Chinese equipment in any network infrastructure used to route or transmit communications, including data centers and internet exchange facilities. Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Leslie AdlerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Jessica Rosenworcel, David Shepardson, Leslie Adler Organizations: Federal Communications, Huawei, Thomson

☆ Hybrid work might not be the dream scenario for all workers
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Madison Hoff | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

A higher share of hybrid workers are stressed or burned out in the past year than fully remote workers, Deloitte found. The recently shared results from the Deloitte survey to Insider were based on nearly 240 fully remote workers, around 350 hybrid workers, and about 460 fully in-person workers and was conducted in April. Just over a third of hybrid workers also felt they didn't really have enough time for wellness, while almost a quarter of fully remote workers felt like this. A quarter of hybrid workers said they felt disconnected from their on-site colleagues compared to 13% of fully remote workers. Similarly, almost a quarter of hybrid workers felt there was ineffective collaboration happening compared to 9% of fully remote workers.

Persons: Deloitte's Jana Arbanas, they're, Jana Arbanas, Arbanas, They've Organizations: Deloitte, Service, US Telecom, Media, Entertainment, Consumer Survey Locations: Wall, Silicon, mhoff@insider.com

☆ FCC issues historic $300 million fine against the largest robocall scam it has ever investigated
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-04 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday cracked down on a massive illegal robocall operation responsible for billions of auto-warranty scam calls in recent years, with regulators imposing a record $300 million fine on what authorities said is the largest such network it has ever investigated. The globe-spanning illegal operation violated US telecom laws by making more than five billion robocalls to more than half a billion phone numbers over the course of just three months in 2021, the FCC said in a release Wednesday. But the campaign had been in existence for even longer, the FCC added. At the same time, the FCC directed US voice providers to stop carrying calls originating from providers used by the network. “We know the scam artists behind these calls are relentless — but we are coming for them and won’t stop until we get this junk off the line,” Rosenworcel said.

Persons: —, Roy Melvin Cox Jr, Aaron Michael Jones, Dave Yost, Jessica Rosenworcel, ” Rosenworcel Organizations: CNN, Federal Communications Commission, FCC, Ohio, of, Justice Department Locations: United States, Ohio, of Columbia, Guam, Hawaii, New Mexico

☆ The existence of lead-sheathed cables does not equate to a public health risk, says US Telecom CEO
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailThe existence of lead-sheathed cables does not equate to a public health risk, says US Telecom CEOJonathan Spalter, U.S. Telecom CEO, a national trade association representing big carriers and other tech companies, joins 'Squawk Box' to discuss the fallout from The Wall Street Journal's investigation into evidence of decades old lead-clad cables potentially contaminating waters across the U.S., and more.

Persons: Jonathan Spalter Organizations: US Telecom, U.S . Telecom Locations: U.S

☆ FBI searched for name of US senator facing foreign threat in latest improper use of intelligence database
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Hannah Rabinowitz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The database, which was created under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, allows US intelligence agencies to conduct broad searches to identify threats and leads related to foreign intelligence missions. Analysts at multiple intelligence agencies can then search databases for leads related to foreign intelligence missions. Those instances, he wrote, include conducting improper searches for the names of a US senator, a state senator and a state judge. The filing revealed a US analyst had information last year that a “specific foreign intelligence service” was targeting the US senator as well as a state senator. This spring, US intelligence agencies released a report saying that the number of warrantless FBI searches of Americans’ electronic data under the intelligence program dropped sharply from millions of searches in 2021 to more than 100,000 last year.

Persons: Christopher Wray, Rudolph Contreras, “, Contreras didn’t, Paul Abbate, Contreras Organizations: CNN, FBI, Foreign Intelligence

☆ Passengers should gear up for flight delays and cancellations this summer as airlines scramble to upgrade their systems to combat 5G interference, Pete Buttigieg says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Pete Buttigieg warned of "a real risk of delays or cancellations" as a 5G deadline approaches, per the WSJ. Hundreds of planes won't be fitted with updated equipment in time, so they could be banned from landing in low-visibility. Therefore any planes which haven't yet been fitted with the updated equipment won't be cleared to land in weather which produces low visibility, from July 1. The updated equipment is being installed at the expense of airlines, and estimates say it will cost more than $638 million in total, IATA said in its annual review. "While we expect minimal operational impact, we continue to work with our supplier to see that every Delta aircraft is equipped with updated radio altimeters."

Persons: Pete Buttigieg, Buttigieg, Biden Organizations: WSJ . Telecom, Street, Airlines, International Air Transport Association, Reuters, Delta Air Lines, Airbus, Delta, JetBlue

☆ US telecom companies say not in talks with Amazon for wireless services
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

June 2 (Reuters) - Major U.S. wireless carriers on Friday said they not in talks with Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) to offer low-cost wireless services to its Prime members. "AT&T is not in discussions with Amazon to resell wireless services," a company spokesperson said. Verizon spokesperson the company "is not in negotiations with Amazon regarding the resale of (Verizon's) wireless network. Brandon Nispel of KeyBanc Capital Markets said Dish Network, a relatively new entrant in wireless, could be the most likely partner for Amazon. They also rallied in May after a Wall Street Journal report that Dish was in talks to sell its wireless plans through Amazon.

Persons: Christopher Ali, Brandon Nispel, Michael Ashley Schulman, Yuvraj Malik, Aditya Soni, Tanya Jain, Akash Sriram, David Shepardson, Sheila Dang, Nivedita Bhattacharjee Organizations: Major U.S, Amazon.com Inc, Wireless, Bloomberg News, Amazon, Dish Network, Verizon, Mobile, Penn State University, AT, KeyBanc, Journal, U.S, Running, Capital Advisors, Thomson Locations: Major, Bengaluru, Washington, Dallas

☆ US telecom stocks fall on report Amazon in talks for wireless services
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Bloomberg News reported that Amazon was negotiating to get the lowest possible wholesale prices and could offer wireless plans for $10 a month or lower to Prime members through these partnerships. AT&T declined to comment, while T-Mobile said it was not in discussions with Amazon for inclusion of its wireless in Prime service. The details of the potential deals between Amazon and the wireless carriers were not immediately known. Dish's shares were an outlier in telecom stocks with a gain of 22%. The company's shares had also soared in May after a Wall Street Journal report that it was in talks to sell its wireless plans through Amazon.

Persons: Christopher Ali, Brandon Nispel, Yuvraj Malik, Tanya Jain, Akash Sriram, Aditya Soni, Sheila Dang, Nivedita Bhattacharjee Organizations: Verizon Communications Inc, Mobile US Inc, Inc, U.S, Bloomberg News, Amazon, Penn State University, Verizon, Mobile, KeyBanc, Markets, Dish Network Corp, Journal, Thomson Locations: Amazon, Bengaluru, Dallas

CNN —The FBI improperly searched an intelligence database for information on suspects in the January 6, 2021, US Capitol riot and people arrested at 2020 protests after the police killing of George Floyd, according to a court opinion that was unsealed and released Friday. The new details about the database misuse are likely to complicate the Biden administration’s efforts to renew a key foreign surveillance program. The FBI searches were not “reasonably likely” to retrieve foreign intelligence information or evidence of a crime, Justice Department officials who reviewed the searches concluded, according to the opinion from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, which oversees US spy agencies. Analysts at the FBI and other agencies can then search the data gathered for leads related to foreign intelligence missions. Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon said Friday that congressional action was needed to curb the privacy violations of Americans revealed by the court opinion.

☆ FCC proposes rules to reassess foreign-owned US telecom services authority
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

WASHINGTON, March 29 (Reuters) - The head of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Wednesday proposed new rules to periodically reassess existing authorizations for foreign-owned companies to provide telecommunications services in the United States. The U.S. telecommunications regulator has raised mounting concerns about Chinese telecom companies in recent years which had won permission to operate in the United States decades ago. In 2019, the FCC voted to deny state-owned Chinese telecom firm China Mobile Ltd (0941.HK) the right to provide U.S. services and later withdrew U.S. authorizations for several other Chinese telecom carriers including China Telecom Corp (0728.HK). Rosenworcel said: "It is so important to have the agency regularly review foreign companies’ authorizations to providetelecommunications services in the United States." In December, a federal appeals court rejected China Telecom's challenge to the FCC order withdrawing the company's authority to provide services in the United States.

☆ These 12 stocks are holding up despite the banking crisis and are expected to keep doing well
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-16 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

While the banking crisis has sent the broader market for a loop, some stocks are holding up well — and are expected to see more gains. The Swiss bank stock rose 3% on Thursday. Despite the recent sharp swings in the market, there are some stocks are holding up. CNBC Pro screened the S & P 500 for stocks that up 1% or more this month and at least 1% this year. The telecommunications stock is rated buy by roughly 74% of analysts, and has risen 1.6% this month, and 3.2% in 2023.

☆ Appeals court rejects China Telecom bid to reverse US ban
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-20 | by ( ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

A federal appeals court on Tuesday rejected China Telecom Corp’s challenge to a Federal Communications Commission order withdrawing the company’s authority to provide services in the United States. A three-judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia rejected the bid by the US arm of China Telecom to reverse the order that took effect in January. The FCC said in 2021 that China Telecom (Americas) “is subject to exploitation, influence and control by the Chinese government.”A lawyer for China Telecom (Americas) did not immediately comment. In 2019, the FCC voted to deny state-owned Chinese telecom firm China Mobile Ltd the right to provide US services and later withdrew US authorizations for several Chinese telecom carriers. China Telecom had argued the FCC violated its rules by refusing to hold a hearing before revoking China Telecom (Americas)’ domestic and international common-carrier authorizations.

☆ FCC commissioner calls for TikTok ban
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Washington CNN Business —The US government should ban TikTok rather than come to a national security agreement with the social media app that might allow it to continue operating in the United States, according to Brendan Carr, a commissioner at the Federal Communications Commission. A string of news reports this year about TikTok’s handling of US user data has left Carr with “little confidence there’s a path forward,” he told CNN in a phone interview Tuesday. Those bipartisan fears were again raised in September, when under pressure from US lawmakers, TikTok declined to commit to cutting off data flows to China. Carr’s call for a TikTok ban was first reported by Axios, and the remarks expand on his earlier calls for Apple and Google to remove TikTok from their respective app stores. Still, Carr said his call for a TikTok ban reflects a “natural progression in my thinking” and is informed by his own agency’s work to limit China’s influence in US telecommunications networks.

☆ FCC could ban all new purchases of Huawei and ZTE telecom gear
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Washington CNN Business —The US government is poised to ban all purchases of new telecom equipment from Huawei and ZTE, two Chinese technology giants, in an expanding crackdown against perceived national security risks from China, according to a report by Axios. It added that the ban would only apply to new products by the companies that have not already received FCC equipment authorization. The proposed ban would go further than prior steps the FCC has taken against Huawei and ZTE, whose networking equipment US officials have said could be used to intercept or monitor US communications. The top US wireless carriers have said they do not use Chinese-made equipment; telecom policy experts have said it is almost exclusively found in the networks of small providers seeking to minimize costs. The following year, the US government expanded on those restrictions by seeking to cut Huawei off from its chip suppliers that use US-made technology.

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