U.S. Offers $10 Million Reward for Russian Hackers Targeting Messaging Apps

The U.S. Department of State has announced a $10 million bounty for information on hacker groups UNC5792 and UNC4221, linked to Russian intelligence. These groups have conducted phishing campaigns targeting Signal and WhatsApp accounts of U.S. officials and NATO personnel. The attacks involve impersonating support agents to steal backup recovery keys, compromising thousands of accounts. Although the encryption of these platforms remains intact, the methods used by the hackers effectively siphon private data. The FBI and CISA have updated advisories detailing new tactics observed in these attacks. The U.S. government is particularly concerned about the targeting of high-value individuals, including military and diplomatic personnel. Users are advised to verify communications through official channels and be cautious of unsolicited requests for verification codes.

Key Points: • The U.S. offers a $10 million reward for information on Russian hacker groups UNC5792 and UNC4221. • Phishing attacks target Signal and WhatsApp users, including U.S. officials and NATO personnel. • Hackers impersonate support agents to steal sensitive data, compromising thousands of accounts.