Russian Hackers Breach ‘Thousands’ Of Signal Accounts, FBI Warns
The FBI is warning that Russian intelligence-linked hackers are actively targeting U.S. officials, journalists, and other high-value individuals through the encrypted messaging app Signal.
FBI Director Kash Patel said Friday that the campaign has already compromised “thousands” of accounts worldwide.
“The FBI has identified cyber actors associated with Russian Intelligence Services targeting users of commercial messaging applications, including Signal,” Patel said.
The operation is focused on individuals considered valuable intelligence targets.
“The campaign targets individuals of high intelligence value, including current and former U.S. government officials, military personnel, political figures, and journalists,” Patel explained.
According to the FBI, once hackers gain access to an account, they can read messages, view contact lists, and even impersonate the victim.
They are also able to send messages from the compromised account, allowing them to spread phishing attempts and target additional victims.
Officials say the hackers are using deceptive tactics to break in.
Attackers pose as official support accounts and trick users into clicking malicious links or sharing verification codes and PINs.
If a user complies, it can result in a full account takeover.
A joint public warning from the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency noted that while Signal is a primary target, the same methods can be used against other messaging platforms.
The alert underscores growing concerns about cybersecurity threats tied to foreign intelligence operations.
The National Security Agency had previously warned about vulnerabilities related to messaging apps, particularly from Russian-linked hacking groups.
The issue has taken on added urgency given how widely such apps are used by government officials.
Last year, several top Trump administration officials, including Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, used Signal to discuss military operations, highlighting the potential national security risks if accounts are compromised.
The FBI is urging users to remain vigilant, avoid clicking unknown links, and never share verification codes or login credentials with unverified sources as the threat continues to expand.