BOCA RATON, Fla. (CBS12) -- United States officials are urging Americans to use encrypted apps amid an unprecedented cyberattack.
Recently, the federal government revealed a hacking campaign -- nicknamed "Salt Typhoon", one of the largest intelligence compromises in U.S. history.
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According to officials China is behind the hack which targeted the nation's largest telecommunications companies including AT&T and Verizon. Officials said the hackers appear to be going after government officials. However, the Federal Bureau of Investigation is now urging all Americans use end-to-end encryption, a method that makes communication secure and something Tech Expert Craig Agranoff said is a great idea.
"That means that when I send it to you, it's encrypted. When you get it, it needs to be decrypted," Agranoff said. "So only those two people have access to that messaging, so that means that not even a third party or the system that you're using has access to it."
Agranoff said apps like Signal, WhatsApp, iMessage, and even Google Messages have end-to-end encryption and are very secure. Nonetheless, knowing what information not to share is also important.
"If I am sending my social security number, I am sending my bank information or any passwords whatsoever, or my house code, or my Wi-Fi through a text message to somebody else," Agranoff said. "That's very dangerous and I advise against it.
Sending passwords through text is not the only way your information could be stolen. The tech expert said people should also be cautious when using public Wi-Fi networks.
"Another way that people are very vulnerable is inside public Wi-Fi," Agranoff said. "They go to Starbucks, or they go to the local bagel shop, and they instantly get the free Wi-Fi and they decide to work there. That is very susceptible to hacking."
Experts also suggest ensuring phones, computers and websites are updated to the latest software to prevent security breaches.