Personal Data of Top U.S. Officials Found on the Web

A stunning revelation has emerged from the German publication Der Spiegel, exposing the shocking lack of security at the highest levels of the U.S. government. According to the report, personal data of top officials, including National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, has been found on various online platforms.

Der Spiegel's reporters were able to track down mobile phone numbers, email addresses, and even some passwords belonging to these influential individuals. Some of the data was linked to social media profiles, such as Instagram and LinkedIn, which were used to create Dropbox accounts and profiles in apps that track running data. Furthermore, WhatsApp profiles for the respective phone numbers and Signal accounts in some cases were also discovered.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's data was particularly easy for Der Spiegel reporters to discover, including his cell phone number and email address. The reporters turned to a commercial provider of contact information that is primarily used by companies for sales, marketing, and recruitment. They sent the provider a link to Hegseth's LinkedIn profile, which yielded a Gmail address, mobile phone number, and other information.

A search of leaked user data revealed that the email address and, in some cases, even the password associated with it, could be found in over 20 publicly accessible leaks. Using publicly available information, it was possible to verify that the email address was used just a few days ago, indicating that this data may not be entirely up-to-date.

This revelation has significant implications for national security, as hostile intelligence services could potentially use this publicly available data to hack into the communications of those affected by installing spyware on their devices. The fact that foreign agents may have been privy to the Signal chat group in which Gabbard, Waltz, and Hegseth discussed a military strike raises serious concerns about the competence and loyalty of Trump's Cabinet.

Historians may one day refer to this Cabinet as "Team of Vulnerability" or "Team of Incompetence," rather than the aptly named "Team of Rivals." The fact that Trump chose his officials based on their personal loyalty, TV presence, and appearance, rather than their knowledge and experience, has left many questioning the wisdom behind these appointments. As Doris Kearns Goodwin wrote in her book about Lincoln's Cabinet, the importance of having a diverse and experienced team cannot be overstated.

As the U.S. government continues to grapple with the fallout from this revelation, it remains to be seen how this will impact national security and the confidence of the American public in their leaders. One thing is certain, however: the lack of attention to detail and foresight in protecting sensitive information has left a glaring vulnerability at the highest levels of power.