Editorial illustration for Cisco Academy Alumni Linked to China's Salt Typhoon Hacking Campaign
Cisco Alumni Exposed in China's Salt Typhoon Cyber Espionage
Two Men Tied to China's Salt Typhoon Hackers Likely Trained at Cisco Academy
In the shadowy world of cybersecurity, a startling connection has emerged between corporate training and state-sponsored hacking. Two individuals linked to China's notorious Salt Typhoon hacking campaign apparently share an unexpected backstory: both are alumni of Cisco's Networking Academy.
The revelation raises uncomfortable questions about how professional training programs might inadvertently become pipelines for cyber espionage. Cybersecurity experts are now examining the complex path from legitimate technical education to potentially malicious state-sponsored activities.
While the details remain murky, the implications are profound. How does a structured learning environment transform into a potential recruitment ground for international cyber operations? The connection suggests a troubling intersection between corporate education and geopolitical cyber strategies.
These questions set the stage for a deeper investigation into the unexpected ways technical skills can be redirected toward strategic national interests. As one expert would soon observe, the trajectory from classroom to cyber campaign is anything but straightforward.
"It's just wild that you could go from that corporate-sponsored training environment into offense against that same company," Cary says, describing his theory. "You have two students come out of this Cisco Networking Academy, and they go on to help conduct one of the most extensive telecom collection campaigns that's ever been made public." When WIRED reached out to Cisco about Cary's findings, the company responded in a statement that the Cisco Networking Academy is "a skills-to-jobs program that teaches foundational technology skills and digital literacy, helping millions of students obtain the skills to earn basic certifications for entry-level IT jobs each year," adding that "this program is open to everyone" and has educated more than 28 million students in 190 countries since it launched in 1997. "Cisco remains committed to helping people around the world gain the foundational digital skills needed to access careers in technology and the opportunities they provide," the company's statement concludes.
While the Cisco Networking Academy offers a general education in IT networking--not limited to Cisco products--it does prominently feature "ethical hacker" courses, including penetration testing and security vulnerability discovery and assessment, though it's not clear if Qiu and Yu took those courses. Cary's detective work that turned up Qiu and Yu's apparent participation in the Cisco Networking Academy began in September, when the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency released an advisory in partnership with the FBI, the National Security Agency, and agencies in a dozen other countries that linked three companies to Salt Typhoon: Sichuan Juxinhe Network Technology, Beijing Huanyu Tianqiong Information Technology, and Sichuan Zhixin Ruijie Network Technology.
The revelation of Cisco Academy alumni potentially participating in China's Salt Typhoon hacking campaign raises uncomfortable questions about technology training pathways. These two individuals appear to have transformed skills learned in a corporate-sponsored program into sophisticated cyber operations targeting telecommunications infrastructure.
Security researcher Cary's observation highlights an unexpected vulnerability in professional training environments. The transition from legitimate networking education to state-sponsored hacking suggests complex geopolitical dynamics in cybersecurity talent development.
Cisco's response, framing the Networking Academy as a "skills-to-jobs program," seems to sidestep the deeper implications of this connection. The incident underscores how technical education can potentially be repurposed for strategic cyber intrusions.
While the full context remains unclear, this case demonstrates the blurred lines between professional training and potential national security risks. It prompts critical questions about how educational institutions might inadvertently contribute to sophisticated cyber campaigns.
The Salt Typhoon revelations remind us that technical skills are increasingly a double-edged sword in our interconnected digital landscape.
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Common Questions Answered
How are Cisco Networking Academy alumni connected to the Salt Typhoon hacking campaign?
Two individuals who graduated from Cisco's Networking Academy were found to be involved in China's extensive Salt Typhoon hacking campaign targeting telecommunications infrastructure. This connection suggests a potential misuse of professional training skills for cyber espionage purposes.
What concerns does the Salt Typhoon hacking campaign raise about technology training programs?
The involvement of Cisco Networking Academy graduates in the Salt Typhoon campaign highlights potential vulnerabilities in professional training environments. It raises questions about how corporate-sponsored educational programs might unintentionally become pathways for cyber threat actors to develop sophisticated hacking capabilities.
What is the significance of the Salt Typhoon hacking campaign in cybersecurity?
The Salt Typhoon hacking campaign is described as one of the most extensive telecom collection campaigns ever made public, targeting critical telecommunications infrastructure. The involvement of trained networking professionals adds a complex layer to understanding how state-sponsored cyber operations recruit and develop technical talent.