The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has instructed employees to avoid using mobile phones for work due to an ongoing China-linked hack targeting US telecommunications networks, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.

According to sources, the CFPB's chief information officer advised staff to conduct sensitive conversations on secure platforms, such as Microsoft Teams and Cisco WebEx, rather than on phones or work-issued devices.

"Do NOT conduct CFPB work using mobile voice calls or text messages," said an email seen by the newspaper. The directive, sent to all CFPB employees and contractors, aligns with recent cybersecurity concerns as US investigators trace intrusions affecting Verizon, AT&T, and senior national security officials.