The US Federal Bureau of Investigation has announced a $10 million reward for any information leading to the identification of members of the Chinese hacking group Salt Typhoon, which the agency suspects of cyberattacks on US telecom companies and the Treasury Department over the past few years, Cybernews reports.
The statement says that Salt Typhoon is carrying out targeted cyber espionage activities against critical infrastructure facilities, including telecommunications operators. Hackers have hacked networks, stolen call logs, private correspondence and documents obtained by law enforcement agencies under a court order. According to the investigation, the latest wave of attacks covered at least five telecommunications companies between December 2024 and January 2025.
Salt Typhoon, experts believe, has been active since at least 2019. In October 2024, The Wall Street Journal reported on one of the group's most powerful attacks, when hackers compromised the networks of Verizon, AT&T, and Lumen (formerly CenturyLink).
The FBI is urging the public to come forward with any information that could help identify or apprehend the perpetrators. Informants can expect not only a monetary reward, but also assistance with relocation or other forms of protection.
Although the focus is on Salt Typhoon, the department clarified that similar rewards may be offered for information on other related hacking groups — in particular, Volt Typhoon, which also carries out attacks against US infrastructure.