Phone App Used by Former Trump National Security Adviser Temporarily Suspended Amid Cybersecurity Investigation
A phone app used by former President Donald Trump's national security adviser, Mike Waltz, has been temporarily suspended as its parent company investigates a cybersecurity incident. TeleMessage, which specializes in software for preserving and organizing messages sent via Signal and other mobile apps, made the announcement on Monday after a report from 404 Media uncovered a hack affecting the app.
The extent of the hack is still unclear, but TeleMessage has hired an external cybersecurity firm to help investigate the incident. "Out of an abundance of caution, all TeleMessage services have been temporarily suspended," said a spokesperson for Smarsh, the parent company of TeleMessage. "All other Smarsh products and services remain fully operational."
The Controversy Surrounding Mike Waltz's Use of TeleMessage
A photograph taken by Reuters appeared to show Waltz using TeleMessage during a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday. The image showed chat logs on Waltz's phone with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, among others. All three men were part of the now-infamous Signal group chat where senior members of the Trump administration discussed sensitive information on a US military strike in Yemen.
The controversy surrounding Waltz's use of TeleMessage has sparked concerns about national security. Joshua Steinman, a former top cyber official at the National Security Council, warned that if confirmed, Waltz's use of the app could be exploited by foreign powers as "a juicy intel target." Steinman asked on X, "Why was the U.S. Government using a foreign-built technology to capture these messages?"
The Implications for National Security
Trump announced last Thursday that Waltz would be leaving his post as national security adviser to serve as ambassador to the United Nations, pending Senate confirmation. The use of TeleMessage by Waltz and other senior officials has raised questions about the government's handling of sensitive information.
The incident highlights concerns about the security of government communication apps and the potential risks of relying on foreign-built technology for national security purposes. As Steinman noted, "Would literally be such a juicy intel target that I just straight up assume it's being exploited." The investigation into TeleMessage is ongoing, and its parent company is taking steps to ensure the security of its services.