Hackers with ties to the Chinese government breached several internet service providers in the United States, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday. The incident, named Salt Typhoon by US officials, happened "in the recent months" as hackers looked for sensitive data or laid the groundwork for cyberattacks, people familiar with the matter said.

It is unclear how much damage was done and what information the hackers may have accessed. The Chinese Embassy did not respond to the WSJ's request for comment.