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Is it safe to talk?

The Western world's communications infrastructure has been hacked.

No, I'm not kidding.

The breach is so bad that The FBI has warned iPhone and Android users to stop sending texts.

Instead, they say, users should only rely on apps that provide end-to-end encryption.

So what's going on?

Apparently, Chinese-based cyber-hackers continue to breach the security of the phones and phone networks, placing the privacy of users and their communications in jeopardy.

However, it's not just the USA that's affected.

Here in New Zealand the same warning has been issued by our Cyber Security Centre.

Nobody is safe; apparently.

According to the FBI, Chinese hackers have had access to telco networks for over a year thanks to a group called Salt Typhoon. This has allowed them to monitor voice and SMS conversations, seemingly with impunity.

How the hell was that allowed to happen?

Not only does it astound me that these breaches have occured but I'm also gobsmacked that they seem to have gone unnoticed for such an extended period of time -- and are still in place today.

While it seems there's no hard evidence that NZ's telcos are affected, we're told that "New Zealand organisations operate similar networks to our international partners so we encourage New Zealand telecommunications and other organisations with on-premises enterprise equipment to apply the best practices outlined in this guide."

There is also strong evidence that Chinese hackers have, in the past, launched attacks on NZ-based computer systems and networks.

This situation is interesting because for quite some time, governments have been opposed to systems that provided end-to-end encryption because, they claim, it is a tool that empowers criminals, terrorists and purveyors of illegal material. "Won't someone think of the children?"

Perhaps now, even these governments have to concede that such encryption should not only be legal but should be encouraged, perhaps even mandated.

One can only wonder at what the Chinese have done with the staggering amount of data they may have already collected. For sure there will be AI systems currently processing much of that material for gems of intelligence that can be used for commercial, political or military gain.

And to answer the question posed in the title of today's column: "no".

But rest assured, as our political overlords are always so quick to remind us "only those with something to hide have anything to fear".

In closing... it is hacks of this magnitude that should be foremost in our minds whenever government proposes things like a digital ID. There is no such thing as a completely unhackable system and we must always remember that.

Carpe Diem folks!

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