In a staggering revelation, almost a dozen major U.S. ISPs fell victim last year to what's been dubbed the "Salt Typhoon" hack— a massive cybersecurity breach executed by Chinese hackers. This intrusion not only compromised sensitive networks but also allowed unauthorized spying on U.S. officials for over a year, with hackers maintaining access to ISP networks even after their activities were discovered.

Shockingly, major telecom giants like AT&T and Verizon chose not to inform their subscribers of the breach. Simple security oversights, such as failing to change default passwords on critical infrastructure, facilitated the hackers' entry and persistence within these networks.

This breach highlights the broader issue of insufficient regulation and oversight of telecom monopolies, which has been exacerbated by recent policy changes under the Trump administration, led by FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr. Carr has controversially moved to rescind essential cybersecurity measures put in place by the previous administration, citing promises from ISPs that they have sufficiently fortified their defenses.

This policy reversal has been heavily criticized, with many viewing it as a step backward in the fight against cyber threats. The Biden administration had introduced basic cybersecurity guidelines—considered by many as the absolute minimum—in an effort to mandate better security protocols among ISPs and ensure transparency regarding data breaches.

Moreover, the current administration has dismantled key cybersecurity programs and dismissed numerous officials from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Such actions have raised concerns about the U.S. government's commitment to protecting its own digital infrastructure from foreign and domestic threats.

Critics argue that the Trump administration's approach to cybersecurity, particularly the rescindment of FCC-imposed safeguards and the undermining of essential cybersecurity frameworks, serves the interests of telecom lobbyists more than it does national security. This has led to accusations that the administration's policies are virtually indistinguishable from a foreign cyberattack, leaving the nation's cyber doors wide open to adversaries.

The situation reveals a stark contrast in priorities, where the perceived threats from platforms like TikTok have been amplified, while tangible cybersecurity threats, like those posed by lax telecom security practices, are seemingly downplayed or ignored. This discrepancy underscores a potentially misguided or misaligned cybersecurity policy approach that could leave the U.S. more vulnerable to the very types of intrusions it claims to guard against.