Congressman Warns of Signal App Vulnerabilities After Hacking Incident

• •Rep. Don Bacon's Signal account was hacked via a phishing scheme, attributed to Russian state hackers.
• •The FBI warns of ongoing phishing attacks targeting high-value individuals using Signal.
• •Lawmakers are using Signal for sensitive communications, but claim not to share classified information.

Outgoing Rep. Don Bacon (R-Nebraska) revealed that his Signal messaging account was hacked due to a phishing scheme, prompting him to label the app as 'not secure.' The incident involved Russian state-sponsored hackers targeting high-value individuals, with Bacon being one of approximately 300 victims in Germany. The FBI has issued alerts regarding these phishing attempts, which impersonate Signal support to extract sensitive information like backup recovery keys. Despite the app's end-to-end encryption, human error remains a significant vulnerability. Meanwhile, other lawmakers continue to use Signal for sensitive communications, asserting they do not share classified information through the app. The controversy surrounding Signal's use in government continues as officials balance security with the need for encrypted communication.