Recent hacks targeted both GlobalX, an airline used for migrant deportations, and TeleMessage, a messaging app used by Trump administration officials. The GlobalX breach exposed passenger lists, revealing the identities of those deported, information not publicly available. The TeleMessage hack compromised group and direct messages from various users, highlighting vulnerabilities in the system. These incidents, along with concerns about the Department of Government Efficiency’s centralized data hub, raise serious questions about the administration’s handling of sensitive data and its potential susceptibility to breaches. The lax security practices demonstrated across multiple platforms pose significant risks to both national security and individual privacy.
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Following a reported hack of TeleMessage, an encrypted messaging app used by former National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, the service has been temporarily suspended. While the hacker did not access Waltz’s messages, the breach raises concerns about the app’s security, especially given its use by high-ranking government officials. The breach compromised messages sent via various platforms integrated into TeleMessage, including Signal, WhatsApp, Telegram, and WeChat. Smarsh, the app’s operator, is investigating the incident with the assistance of an external cybersecurity firm.
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A hacker compromised TeleMessage, an Israeli firm providing modified messaging apps to U.S. government agencies, resulting in the theft of customer data. Stolen data includes direct messages and group chats from modified Signal, WhatsApp, Telegram, and WeChat clients, exposing vulnerabilities in the archiving process. The breach impacted various clients, including Customs and Border Protection and Coinbase, highlighting a lack of end-to-end encryption between the modified apps and TeleMessage’s servers. While high-level officials’ messages weren’t accessed, the incident demonstrates significant security flaws.
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John Q. Hosedrinker