App used by Trump adviser is temporarily suspending services after reported hack

The communications app used by U.S. President Donald Trump's former national security adviser, Mike Waltz, has suspended its services following a reported hack that exposed some of its messages.

Washington D.C. - The Department of Homeland Security separately said that customs officials had disabled the app on their devices. Portland, Oregon-based Smarsh, which runs the TeleMessage app, said in an email it was "investigating a potential security incident" and was suspending all its services "out of an abundance of caution."

Smarsh did not immediately respond to a request for more detail about the breach. DHS said in an email the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency had "immediately disabled TeleMessage as a precautionary measure." "The investigation into the scope of the breach is ongoing," it said.

The Controversy Surrounding Waltz's Communications

Waltz was ousted from his position the following day, a move that capped weeks of controversy over his creation of a Signal group to share real-time updates on U.S. military action in Yemen. That chat drew particular attention because Waltz, or someone using his account, accidentally added a prominent journalist to the group.

Concerns over the security of Waltz's communications were further heightened when it was reported that a hacker had broken into TeleMessage's backend infrastructure and intercepted some of its users' messages. Tech news site 404 Media said the hacker provided them with stolen material, some of which the news site was able to independently verify.

The Investigation Continues

While the exact details of the breach are still unknown, DHS has confirmed that an investigation is underway to determine the full extent of the incident. The agency's statement suggests that a thorough examination of the security measures in place is necessary to ensure that such an incident does not happen again.

The Significance of TeleMessage

TeleMessage is an unofficial version of the popular encrypted messaging app Signal, and its use by high-ranking officials like Waltz has raised concerns about national security. The app's lack of official recognition and oversight has led to speculation about its potential vulnerabilities.

The Impact on Smarsh and TeleMessage

Smarsh's decision to suspend all its services out of caution is a significant blow to the company, which relies heavily on user data for its revenue. The impact on TeleMessage users is also unclear at this time, as the app's suspension has left many wondering about the security of their messages.