Article Summary
Representative Michael Waltz was removed from his post and nominated as ambassador to the United Nations, following a report that a hacker infiltrated mobile monitoring company TeleMessage and accessed Signal messages. TeleMessage has since removed Signal mentions from their website. This incident highlights the risks of adding archiving features to end-to-end encrypted messaging apps.
Original Post
Waltz was removed from his post late last week, with Trump nominating him to serve as ambassador to the United Nations.
TeleMessage website removes Signal mentions
The TeleMessage website until recently boasted the ability to “capture, archive and monitor mobile communication” through text messages, voice calls, WhatsApp, WeChat, Telegram, and Signal. However, the TeleMessage home page currently makes no mention of Signal, and links on the page have been disabled.
The anonymous hacker who reportedly infiltrated TeleMessage told 404 Media that it took about 15 to 20 minutes and “wasn’t much effort at all.” While the hacker did not obtain Waltz’s messages, the hack shows that the archived chat logs are not end-to-end encrypted.
“Data related to Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the cryptocurrency giant Coinbase, and other financial institutions are included in the hacked material,” according to 404 Media.
What This Means for You
- Be aware of the risks of adding archiving features to end-to-end encrypted messaging apps.
- Consider the security implications of using mobile monitoring services for your communications.
- Keep informed of potential vulnerabilities in the apps and services you use.
Key Terms
- TeleMessage
- Signal
- Mobile monitoring
- End-to-end encryption
- Hacking
- Data security
- Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
https://arstechnica.com/security/2025/05/signal-clone-used-by-trump-official-stops-operations-after-report-it-was-hacked/
