A recent hack of the messaging app TeleMessage exposed messages from over 60 U.S. government officials, including National Security Adviser Mike Waltz. The platform was taken offline as investigations continue, with key figures and the company remaining silent.
A hacker who broke into the messaging platform TeleMessage earlier this month accessed communications from a wider range of U.S. government officials than previously known. The platform had been used by U.S. President Donald Trump national security adviser Mike Waltz and various federal agencies.
According to data reviewed by Reuters, the breach exposed messages from more than 60 government users, including disaster response teams, customs officials, diplomats, a White House staffer, and members of the Secret Service. The leaked messages, which covered roughly a one-day period, were shared by Distributed Denial of Secrets, a nonprofit that publishes hacked materials in the public interest.
While many of the messages were fragmentary, some referenced government travel plans, including visits to the Vatican and Jordan. Reuters was unable to verify the full contents of the leak but confirmed several phone numbers and message recipients, including applicants for aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and a financial services firm.
The breach gained public attention after Waltz was photographed using TeleMessage’s version of the encrypted app Signal during a cabinet meeting on April 30. Waltz had previously drawn headlines for mistakenly adding a journalist to a Signal chat where cabinet officials were discussing airstrikes in Yemen. He was later removed from his role, although Trump nominated him to be the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
Experts say that even if no secret info was leaked, the data about who talked to whom and when could still help foreign spies.
U.S. government agencies reacted cautiously. The White House acknowledged the incident but offered no further comment. The United States Secret Service said a limited number of its employees used the app and that the matter is under review. FEMA said it had no evidence that its data was compromised. U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirmed it had disabled the platform and launched an investigation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated it tested the app in 2024 but ultimately chose not to adopt it.
TeleMessage is operated by the Oregon-based company Smarsh. The service was taken offline on May 5 "out of an abundance of caution." The full extent of the breach and officials like Waltz’s use of the platform remain unclear. Neither the company, Waltz, nor the White House have responded to inquiries.
Türkiye and Azerbaijan are deepening defense ties with two major joint military drills in Nakhchivan this June, aiming to strengthen strategic cooperation and regional readiness.
European foreign ministers agreed to increase pressure on Russia by imposing new sanctions targeting its energy and banking sectors amid ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
As G7 leaders prepare to meet, most member states are ready to cut the Russian oil price cap to $45 even without U.S. backing.
NVIDIA unveiled plans on Wednesday to build the world’s first industrial AI cloud in Germany, aiming to revolutionize European manufacturing with a 10,000-GPU facility and partnerships with industry leaders like BMW, Siemens, and Mercedes-Benz.
EU Council President Antonio Costa celebrated the 40th anniversary of Portugal's EU accession, hailing it as the catalyst for the nation's most significant period of social and economic development and a testament to European solidarity.
Türkiye and Azerbaijan are deepening defense ties with two major joint military drills in Nakhchivan this June, aiming to strengthen strategic cooperation and regional readiness.
European foreign ministers agreed to increase pressure on Russia by imposing new sanctions targeting its energy and banking sectors amid ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
As G7 leaders prepare to meet, most member states are ready to cut the Russian oil price cap to $45 even without U.S. backing.
NVIDIA unveiled plans on Wednesday to build the world’s first industrial AI cloud in Germany, aiming to revolutionize European manufacturing with a 10,000-GPU facility and partnerships with industry leaders like BMW, Siemens, and Mercedes-Benz.
Azerbaijan is advancing its green energy agenda, with bold targets and regional projects discussed at the IEA’s global energy efficiency conference.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for June 8th, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Presidential candidate Miguel Uribe Turbay is in critical condition after being shot three times — including twice in the head — during a campaign event in Bogotá.
Kazakhstan and the UK are strengthening defense ties with a new Military Cooperation Plan, focusing on peacekeeping and military education.
A 30-year-old woman was shot by police in Munich on Saturday evening after stabbing two people at Theresienwiese, a central park best known for hosting Oktoberfest.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has condemned U.S. immigration raids and National Guard deployment in Los Angeles, calling for reforms instead of enforcement.
Türkiye and Azerbaijan are deepening defense ties with two major joint military drills in Nakhchivan this June, aiming to strengthen strategic cooperation and regional readiness.
European foreign ministers agreed to increase pressure on Russia by imposing new sanctions targeting its energy and banking sectors amid ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
As G7 leaders prepare to meet, most member states are ready to cut the Russian oil price cap to $45 even without U.S. backing.
NVIDIA unveiled plans on Wednesday to build the world’s first industrial AI cloud in Germany, aiming to revolutionize European manufacturing with a 10,000-GPU facility and partnerships with industry leaders like BMW, Siemens, and Mercedes-Benz.
EU Council President Antonio Costa celebrated the 40th anniversary of Portugal's EU accession, hailing it as the catalyst for the nation's most significant period of social and economic development and a testament to European solidarity.
Türkiye and Azerbaijan are deepening defense ties with two major joint military drills in Nakhchivan this June, aiming to strengthen strategic cooperation and regional readiness.
European foreign ministers agreed to increase pressure on Russia by imposing new sanctions targeting its energy and banking sectors amid ongoing conflict with Ukraine.
As G7 leaders prepare to meet, most member states are ready to cut the Russian oil price cap to $45 even without U.S. backing.
NVIDIA unveiled plans on Wednesday to build the world’s first industrial AI cloud in Germany, aiming to revolutionize European manufacturing with a 10,000-GPU facility and partnerships with industry leaders like BMW, Siemens, and Mercedes-Benz.
Azerbaijan is advancing its green energy agenda, with bold targets and regional projects discussed at the IEA’s global energy efficiency conference.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment