Signal App Scrutiny Grows After Security Mishap

Yesterday at 10:20 pm

2489 posts

Signal App Scrutiny Grows After Security Mishap \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ A journalist’s accidental addition to a Signal group chat of U.S. national security officials has sparked concerns over secure communications. The app, known for end-to-end encryption, is now under scrutiny. Experts warn even encrypted apps carry risks if mishandled.

Signal Messaging App and Security Leak Quick Looks

Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg added to secret Signal group chat.
U.S. national security officials were coordinating Yemen airstrikes.
National Security Council confirms authenticity of leaked chat.
Signal uses default end-to-end encryption for private conversations.
Encryption protocol is open source and trusted in security circles.
Signal allows group chats of up to 1,000 users.
Messages on Signal can be set to disappear automatically.
Biden administration officials instructed to use Signal sparingly.
Signal could be misused to bypass public records laws.
Some government communications risk becoming untraceable.
Signal messages in the incident set to vanish within weeks.
Government officials increasingly rely on encrypted apps like Signal.
Signal Foundation established in 2018, funded by WhatsApp co-founder.
Signal has no advertisers or investors, sustained by donations.
Experts agree Signal is more secure than standard SMS but not infallible.

Deep Look

The secure messaging app Signal, long praised for its privacy and encryption features, is under the spotlight after a startling security incident involving U.S. national security officials. The breach came to light when Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, revealed that he was inadvertently added to a Signal group chat where senior officials were discussing upcoming U.S. airstrikes on Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.

The National Security Council has confirmed that the chat thread “appears to be authentic”, prompting an investigation into how highly classified military plans ended up in a group chat with a journalist.

What Is Signal and How Does It Work?

Signal is a popular encrypted messaging app used for direct messaging, group chats, voice calls, and video calls. It is built on an open-source encryption protocol, meaning the code is publicly available for inspection, making it one of the most trusted secure communication platforms worldwide.

End-to-end encryption: Only the sender and recipient can view messages; no third party can access the content.
Disappearing messages: Users can set messages to auto-delete after a chosen period (ranging from seconds to weeks).
Group chats: The app supports large group chats with up to 1,000 members.
Open source: The Signal Protocol also powers the encryption in Meta’s WhatsApp.

In contrast to Telegram, which requires manual activation of encryption for private chats and does not support it for group chats, Signal’s encryption is always on by default.

Is Signal Truly Secure?

Signal is considered one of the most secure communication platforms, a sentiment echoed by Meredith Whittaker, president of Signal, who recently reaffirmed on social media that “Signal is the gold standard in private comms.”

However, experts caution that no system is entirely hack-proof, and the platform can still be misused. In government settings, it’s seen as a double-edged sword: while it protects privacy, it can also allow officials to evade transparency requirements, including public records laws.

According to reports, during the incident involving national security officials, messages in the Signal group were set to self-delete after one to four weeks, raising questions about accountability and record-keeping.

Use of Signal by Government Officials

Encrypted messaging apps have become increasingly popular among U.S. government officials at the federal, state, and local levels. An Associated Press review revealed that many officials use Signal accounts registered to both government-issued phones and personal devices.

In the Biden administration, those who had approval to use Signal were advised to do so sparingly, primarily for notifying colleagues to check classified communication channels, rather than to discuss sensitive matters directly on the app.

Without archiving mechanisms, communications on Signal can disappear without trace, which poses serious transparency issues in democratic governance.

The Origin and Funding of Signal

Signal’s origins date back to more than a decade ago when Moxie Marlinspike, an entrepreneur and cybersecurity expert, merged two open-source projects to form the app.

Signal Foundation was established in 2018, backed by a $50 million donation from WhatsApp co-founder Brian Acton, who serves on the board.
The foundation is nonprofit, with no advertisers or investors, and relies on donations from users to sustain operations.
The app is designed with the mission of promoting private and secure communication globally.

The Fallout From the Security Breach

The accidental addition of a journalist to a group chat discussing U.S. military strikes has triggered serious national security concerns. While President Trump’s administration has defended the integrity of its communications, the mistake has raised alarms over the use of consumer-grade encrypted apps in handling sensitive military planning.

The incident also highlights the challenge of balancing security, transparency, and accountability in an era when officials rely on digital communication tools that can be both a safeguard and a liability.

Looking Ahead: Possible Changes in Communication Policy

Following the breach, the National Security Council has indicated that it is investigating how a journalist’s number was mistakenly added. There is growing speculation that this could prompt a re-examination of secure communication protocols, especially regarding the use of unencrypted devices and consumer apps for national security matters.

Additionally, this episode may accelerate discussions around:

Mandatory archiving for digital communications used by government officials.
Stricter rules on app usage for classified and sensitive information.
The development or adoption of government-issued secure platforms designed with compliance and record retention in mind.