# Who is targeting telecom organisations?

> Public reporting links 13 threat groups to attacks on telecom organisations, part of the technology and telecoms industry, including WIZARD SPIDER, Tortoiseshell and BackdoorDiplomacy. 9 of them are thought to have state backing. This page lists them and where they are thought to operate from, so you can see who might come after a business like yours.

Canonical page: https://www.precursorintelligence.com/sub-industries/telecom
Breadcrumb: [Home](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/) > [Industries](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/industries) > [Technology and telecoms](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/industries/technology-telecommunications) > Telecom

## At a glance

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Threat groups linked | 13 |
| Related sectors with groups | 6 |
| Suspected state backing | 9 of 13 |
| Countries of origin | 4 |
| Part of | Technology and telecoms |

## Which groups target telecom organisations?

| Group | Thought to operate from | Suspected state backing | Profile |
|---|---|---|---|
| WIZARD SPIDER | Russia | Russian Federation | https://www.precursorintelligence.com/threat-actors/wizard-spider |
| Tortoiseshell | Iran | Iran (Islamic Republic of) | https://www.precursorintelligence.com/threat-actors/tortoiseshell |
| BackdoorDiplomacy | Not known | No | https://www.precursorintelligence.com/threat-actors/backdoordiplomacy |
| AridViper | Palestinian Territories | Palestine | https://www.precursorintelligence.com/threat-actors/aridviper |
| LYCEUM | Iran | Iran (Islamic Republic of) | https://www.precursorintelligence.com/threat-actors/lyceum |
| APT41 | China | People's Republic of China | https://www.precursorintelligence.com/threat-actors/apt41 |
| Earth Lusca | China | No | https://www.precursorintelligence.com/threat-actors/earth-lusca |
| NoName057(16) | Not known | No | https://www.precursorintelligence.com/threat-actors/noname057-16 |
| TianWu | China | China | https://www.precursorintelligence.com/threat-actors/tianwu |
| Aoqin Dragon | China | No | https://www.precursorintelligence.com/threat-actors/aoqin-dragon |
| Sandman APT | China | China | https://www.precursorintelligence.com/threat-actors/sandman-apt |
| Cotton Sandstorm | Iran | Iran (Islamic Republic of) | https://www.precursorintelligence.com/threat-actors/cotton-sandstorm |
| BANISHED KITTEN | Iran | Iran (Islamic Republic of) | https://www.precursorintelligence.com/threat-actors/banished-kitten |

## Where are they thought to operate from?

- China: 5
- Iran: 4
- Russia: 1
- Palestinian Territories: 1
- Not known: 2

## Other sectors in technology and telecoms

- [Tech](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/sub-industries/tech): 13 groups
- [High-Tech](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/sub-industries/high-tech): 7 groups
- [Telecommunications](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/sub-industries/telecommunications): 7 groups (also called telecommunication)
- [Information technology](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/sub-industries/information-technology): 6 groups (also called technology)
- [Telecomms](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/sub-industries/telecomms): 3 groups
- [Semiconductor industry](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/sub-industries/semiconductor-industry): 1 group

## Frequently asked questions

### Which threat groups target telecom organisations?

Public reporting links 13 threat groups to attacks on telecom organisations, including WIZARD SPIDER, Tortoiseshell, BackdoorDiplomacy, AridViper and LYCEUM.

### Where are these groups thought to operate from?

Most are thought to operate from China (5), Iran (4) and Russia (1). 9 of the 13 are thought to have backing from a government.

### Which industry is telecom part of?

Telecom sits within technology and telecoms. The industry page lists every group linked to the wider sector.

### How can I check my own organisation's exposure?

Create an account and tell us the software you run. We match it against known flaws, rank each one from 0 to 100 using evidence it is being exploited, let you know as soon as something changes that affects you, and show which groups and ransomware gangs are hitting your sector.

## Check whether it matters to your business

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