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U.S. Lawmakers Call for Scrutiny of Baicells, Chinese Telecom Firm

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Baicells, a Chinese telecom hardware manufacturer founded by former Huawei employees, is facing heightened scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers over national security concerns. John Moolenaar, the top Republican on the House Select Committee on China, emphasized the need for rigorous government oversight of Baicells, citing potential cyber vulnerabilities in the company’s products. He warned that any presence of such companies in U.S. networks, particularly in sensitive areas, should raise significant national security alarms.

Despite Baicells’ reassurances that its products do not pose security risks, the company is under investigation by the FBI and the U.S. Department of Commerce. The company has provided base stations and routers to more than 700 U.S. networks, including those near military installations. The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has flagged Baicells’ firmware for cyber vulnerabilities, further raising concerns.

Baicells’ chairman, Sun Lixin, defended the company by stating that all tech companies, regardless of their size, continuously release updates to address security vulnerabilities. He also expressed willingness to cooperate with U.S. inquiries.

The scrutiny of Baicells is part of a broader concern in Washington over the potential for Chinese-linked companies to compromise U.S. telecommunications networks. U.S. officials have warned that China-linked suppliers, including state-backed hacking groups like “Volt Typhoon,” could exploit network vulnerabilities for espionage.

Democratic leaders in Congress, including Frank Pallone and Mark Warner, have called for greater accountability and quicker responses to national security risks posed by foreign adversaries in U.S. telecom networks. They argue that focusing on individual companies without addressing systemic risks is insufficient to protect critical infrastructure.

 

Tenable CEO Amit Yoran Dies After Battle with Cancer

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Amit Yoran, the chairman and CEO of cybersecurity firm Tenable Holdings, passed away on Friday after a battle with cancer, as confirmed by the company on Saturday. Yoran, who was 54, joined Tenable as CEO in 2016 and played a pivotal role in the company’s growth, including leading its successful initial public offering (IPO) in 2018.

Following his death, Tenable announced that the company would continue to operate under the leadership of Chief Financial Officer Steve Vintz and Chief Operating Officer Mark Thurmond, who had been appointed as co-CEOs when Yoran took a medical leave in December of the previous year. Art Coviello, Tenable’s lead independent director, will now take over as the chair of the company’s board.

Yoran’s career was defined by his significant leadership roles within the cybersecurity industry. Before joining Tenable, he served as president of Dell Technologies’ RSA cybersecurity unit and was the founding director of the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, where he worked to protect the country from cyber threats.

Tenable, headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, competes with companies such as Crowdstrike, Qualys, and Rapid7 in providing software solutions that help businesses and government agencies monitor their networks for security vulnerabilities and detect potential cyberattacks.

 

Chinese Hack of U.S. Telecoms Compromised More Firms, WSJ Reports

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A Chinese cyberattack has compromised more U.S. telecom companies than previously reported, including Charter Communications (CHTR.O), Consolidated Communications (CCII.UL), and Windstream, according to a Wall Street Journal report. Hackers exploited unpatched devices from security vendor Fortinet and compromised routers from Cisco Systems (CSCO.O), infiltrating networks of major firms such as AT&T (T.N), Verizon (VZ.N), Lumen Technologies (LUMN.N), and T-Mobile (TMUS.O).

The attack, linked to the Chinese-backed Salt Typhoon cyberespionage operation, raised concerns about the scale of the breach and the vulnerability of critical infrastructure. U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan warned telecom and tech executives that Chinese hackers could potentially disrupt U.S. ports, power grids, and other infrastructure. The affected companies have since secured their networks and worked with law enforcement and government officials to mitigate further damage. However, the hack is a reminder of the growing risks of state-sponsored cyberattacks.