Top US Security Officials' Passwords and Personal Phone Numbers Discovered Online
A recent revelation has shed light on the security lapses of top Trump administration officials, with sensitive personal information easily discoverable online.
During an investigation into a secret group chat about bombing Houthi targets in Yemen, encrypted messaging app Signal found itself at the center of a storm. However, experts say that officials' mistakes in setting up the chat led to the exposure, rather than any fault with the app's security.
Senior Trump administration members inadvertently included The Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg in the group chat, which raised concerns about the use of untrusted contacts and sensitive devices. However, this incident highlights a broader issue: the need for officials to adhere to strict security protocols when discussing top-secret military operations.
The Real Culprit Behind SignalGate
Reporters from German news outlet Der Spiegel discovered that mobile phone numbers, email addresses, and some passwords for top Trump administration security officials could be found on the internet. These details were linked to Dropbox, Microsoft Teams, Signal, and WhatsApp accounts used by the officials.
"Most of these numbers and email addresses are apparently still in use, with some of them linked to profiles on social media platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn," the news organization reported. However, officials told Der Spiegel that many of the accounts were no longer used or had been updated.
The Exposed Officials
According to Der Spiegel, sensitive personal information belonging to senior Trump administration officials including national security adviser Mike Waltz, director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Pete Hegseth, secretary of defense, were found online. These included phone numbers, email addresses, and some passwords.
Venmo Accounts Exposed
Additionally, WIRED reported that a Venmo account linked to Mike Waltz originally invited Goldberg to the group chat. However, after reaching out to the White House, the account hid its friends list, revealing people in Waltz's wider social network.
The Risks of Being Associated with Officials
Experts warn that information about who officials associate with could be highly lucrative for foreign spies and hackers. The exposed details highlight the risks of not adhering to strict security protocols, particularly when dealing with sensitive information.
Other Security News
In other news linked to the Houthi group chat, national security adviser Mike Waltz left his Venmo account open to public view. Additionally, there are early signs in Europe that some companies are reassessing their use of cloud services from Google, Amazon, and Microsoft due to concerns about data security.
Alleged Snowflake hacker Connor Moucka has agreed to be extradited to the United States to face federal charges related to the hacking activity. According to Cyberscoop, Moucka faces 20 federal charges, including those linked to computer fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft.
London's Permanent Face Recognition Cameras
Police forces across the UK have increased their use of live face recognition cameras in recent years. However, a new development has seen the first permanent face recognition cameras being rolled out in London.
The city's Metropolitan Police are installing fixed cameras in Croydon, with reports suggesting that these cameras will not be used continuously but rather as part of a "business as usual" approach. Privacy campaigners fear this could lead to a network of permanent face recognition cameras unlike those seen in any other democratic countries.