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The complexity of the U.S. telecommunications system plays a significant role in the success of such hacks. The telecom sector has evolved over time through numerous mergers and acquisitions, creating a patchwork of systems that can be exploited. This fragmentation complicates defense mechanisms, highlighting a worrying trend where offense continues to outpace the means of defense.
Looking ahead, the upcoming Trump administration will inherit this pressing issue of cybersecurity, continuing a pattern where the U.S. faces adversarial threats from state actors like China and Russia. The challenge will be how effectively they can address and remediate vulnerabilities that have been exposed through this incident.