Messaging App Used by Mike Waltz, Trump Deportation Airline GlobalX Both Hacked in Separate Breaches (reuters.com)
(Monday May 05, 2025 @05:30PM (BeauHD)
from the would-you-look-at-that dept.)
- Reference: 0177335427
- News link: https://yro.slashdot.org/story/25/05/05/2044211/messaging-app-used-by-mike-waltz-trump-deportation-airline-globalx-both-hacked-in-separate-breaches
- Source link: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/app-used-by-trump-adviser-says-it-is-temporarily-suspending-services-following-2025-05-05/
[1]TeleMessage , a communications app used by former Trump national security adviser Mike Waltz, has [2]suspended services after a reported hack exposed some user messages. The breach follows controversy over Waltz's use of the app to coordinate military updates, including [3]accidentally adding a journalist to a sensitive Signal group chat. From the report:
> In an email, Portland, Oregon-based Smarsh, which runs the TeleMessage app, said it was "investigating a potential security incident" and was suspending all its services "out of an abundance of caution." A Reuters photograph [4]showed Waltz using TeleMessage , an unofficial version of the popular encrypted messaging app Signal, on his phone during a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
A separate report from 404 Media says hackers have also targeted GlobalX Air -- one of the main airlines the Trump administration is using as part of its deportation efforts -- and [5]claim to have stolen flight records and passenger manifests for all its flights , including those for deportation. From the report:
> The data, which the hackers contacted 404 Media and other journalists about unprompted, could provide granular insight into who exactly has been deported on GlobalX flights, when, and to where, with GlobalX being the charter company that facilitated the deportation of hundreds of Venezuelans to El Salvador. "Anonymous has decided to enforce the Judge's order since you and your sycophant staff ignore lawful orders that go against your fascist plans," a defacement message posted to GlobalX's website reads. Anonymous, well-known for its use of the Guy Fawkes mask, is an umbrella some hackers operate under when performing what they see as hacktivism.
[1] https://www.telemessage.com/
[2] https://tech.yahoo.com/cybersecurity/articles/app-used-trump-adviser-says-184108714.html
[3] https://yro.slashdot.org/story/25/03/25/1728243/signal-head-defends-messaging-apps-security-after-us-war-plan-leak
[4] https://news.slashdot.org/story/25/05/03/0427226/us-national-security-official-caught-using-less-secure-signal-app-knockoff
[5] https://www.404media.co/globalx-airline-for-trumps-deportations-hacked/
> In an email, Portland, Oregon-based Smarsh, which runs the TeleMessage app, said it was "investigating a potential security incident" and was suspending all its services "out of an abundance of caution." A Reuters photograph [4]showed Waltz using TeleMessage , an unofficial version of the popular encrypted messaging app Signal, on his phone during a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
A separate report from 404 Media says hackers have also targeted GlobalX Air -- one of the main airlines the Trump administration is using as part of its deportation efforts -- and [5]claim to have stolen flight records and passenger manifests for all its flights , including those for deportation. From the report:
> The data, which the hackers contacted 404 Media and other journalists about unprompted, could provide granular insight into who exactly has been deported on GlobalX flights, when, and to where, with GlobalX being the charter company that facilitated the deportation of hundreds of Venezuelans to El Salvador. "Anonymous has decided to enforce the Judge's order since you and your sycophant staff ignore lawful orders that go against your fascist plans," a defacement message posted to GlobalX's website reads. Anonymous, well-known for its use of the Guy Fawkes mask, is an umbrella some hackers operate under when performing what they see as hacktivism.
[1] https://www.telemessage.com/
[2] https://tech.yahoo.com/cybersecurity/articles/app-used-trump-adviser-says-184108714.html
[3] https://yro.slashdot.org/story/25/03/25/1728243/signal-head-defends-messaging-apps-security-after-us-war-plan-leak
[4] https://news.slashdot.org/story/25/05/03/0427226/us-national-security-official-caught-using-less-secure-signal-app-knockoff
[5] https://www.404media.co/globalx-airline-for-trumps-deportations-hacked/
Golly gee (Score:3)
by quonset ( 4839537 )
An unapproved piece of software used by the former National Security adviser on their personal phone discussing classified information gets compromised. Who didn't see that coming?
Okay... (Score:2)
by SmaryJerry ( 2759091 )
So some random unknown app was hacked that used to be used by a guy who was already fired for being insecure. Seems like a slow news day, what's next are we reporting on people who were deported who have public deportation orders... o wait.. same summary here. Moving on.
No shit (Score:2)
Our government is compromised from the top down. It will take decades to repair, rebuild, and trust again.
Odd thing is, USA isnt getting money for all this data Russia now has and advancements Russia has made from this.
Ironically, keeping patient data, user data, personal details, and social security data separated has worked well for us in this scenario.