Signal clone used by Trump official stops operations after report it was hacked

image via Ars Technica

May 5, 2025, 9:37 PM

• •TeleMessage, an Israeli company acquired by Smarsh, which provides modified messaging apps to the US government, has been hacked.
• •The hack exposed archived data from TeleMessage's Signal clone, as well as modified versions of WhatsApp, Telegram, and WeChat.
• •Mike Waltz, a former National Security Advisor, used TeleMessage's Signal app and is now in need of a new secure messaging app.
• •The breach highlights the security risks of archiving messages from end-to-end encrypted apps.

TeleMessage, an Israeli company that sells modified versions of Signal and other messaging apps to the US government, suffered a security breach. The hack led to the temporary shutdown of TeleMessage services after a hacker stole data containing direct messages and group chats. This incident impacts former National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, who used the TeleMessage Signal clone. The breach raises concerns about the security of archived messages from encrypted apps, as sensitive data related to government communications was potentially exposed.

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