The Signal Clone Used by the Trump Admin Was Hacked
A disturbing revelation has emerged regarding the cybersecurity practices of TeleMessage, an Israeli company that has been selling modified versions of popular messaging apps to the U.S. government. The shocking discovery, obtained by 404 Media, reveals that a hacker was able to breach and steal sensitive customer data from TeleMessage, compromising the security of its most prized asset: the encrypted chats of high-ranking officials.
For those unfamiliar, TeleMessage has been at the center of controversy in recent weeks after it was inadvertently revealed during a cabinet meeting with President Trump that former Rep. Mike Waltz used the company's modified Signal app to store and archive his own messages. The hack, which occurred while Waltz was on the phone with Trump, exposed serious vulnerabilities in TeleMessage's security measures.
The hacker, who managed to access customer data without breaching end-to-end encryption between the modified messaging app and its ultimate archive destination, made off with a trove of sensitive information. This includes direct messages, group chats, and even metadata related to certain individuals' conversations on WhatsApp, Telegram, WeChat, and, in some cases, Signal.
Among those affected by the hack were cabinet members, high-ranking officials, and even recipients of Waltz's messages. It appears that Marco Rubio, Tulsi Gabbard, and JD Vance received messages from Waltz through the hacked app. The stolen data also included sensitive information about Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Coinbase, two major financial institutions.
The implications of this breach are far-reaching. As a tool designed to store and archive highly sensitive communications, TeleMessage's security shortcomings have raised serious questions about the safety and confidentiality of messages sent by government officials. The fact that an app used by high-ranking individuals contains such glaring vulnerabilities is unsettling and highlights the need for more robust cybersecurity measures in place.
This recent revelation serves as a stark reminder of the ever-present threat of cyber attacks on sensitive information systems, including those utilized by government agencies and financial institutions. As the world grapples with an increasingly complex landscape of digital threats, it is essential to prioritize security and ensure that such breaches do not happen in the future.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story as 404 Media continues to investigate the full extent of TeleMessage's cybersecurity failures and their impact on national security.