Russia targets Signal and WhatsApp accounts in cyber campaign

9 hours ago

Russian state hackers are targeting Signal and WhatsApp accounts of dignitaries, military personnel, and civil servants globally.
Dutch intelligence confirms Dutch government employees are among the victims, with journalists also potentially at risk.
Hackers use methods like impersonating Signal Support chatbots to steal security verification and pin codes.
Another method exploits the 'linked devices' function in Signal and WhatsApp to gain unauthorized access.
Once compromised, hackers can read incoming messages, including those in group chats, potentially accessing sensitive information.
Signal's end-to-end encryption makes it a target for hackers seeking sensitive government communications.
The Dutch MIVD and AIVD advise against using Signal and WhatsApp for classified or sensitive information.
The hacking campaign exploits legitimate security features rather than technical vulnerabilities in the apps.
A Cyber Advisory has been issued to help users identify and respond to such attacks.
Users can check for compromised contacts by looking for duplicate names in group chats and report suspicious activity.

Hasty Briefsbeta