Table of contents
- Another blow to U.S. digital security
- Worse than Signal: how the Waltz scandal exploded
- The hacked group included major political figures
- Time to rethink digital security in politics
Another blow to U.S. digital security
TeleMessage, a messaging app promoted as a secure tool for government communication, has been suspended after a hacking attack exposed its vulnerabilities.
According to U.S. media, the platform—run by Smarsh—was being used by former national security adviser Mike Waltz, recently fired by Trump after another incident involving the app Signal.
This latest event fuels concerns over the true safety of encrypted communication apps, especially in sensitive political and military contexts.
Worse than Signal: how the Waltz scandal exploded
Despite being deemed less secure than Signal, TeleMessage was reportedly used by high-ranking Trump officials to discuss anti-Houthi war strategies. Things went from bad to worse when Waltz accidentally added Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, to a confidential military planning group chat.
This massive blunder contributed directly to his dismissal and shed light on the poor handling of digital security at the highest levels of power.
The hacked group included major political figures
Just a day before Waltz’s firing, a meeting of Trump administration insiders included JD Vance, Marco Rubio, Tulsi Gabbard, and Steve Witkoff, all using TeleMessage to exchange sensitive messages.
According to “404 Media”, the breach may have put classified information into hostile hands, further deepening the scandal surrounding digital risk management inside the U.S. government.
Time to rethink digital security in politics
This incident raises serious questions about how secure governmental communication should be handled. Relying on third-party apps—even with end-to-end encryption—can easily backfire if they’re not properly vetted and monitored.
The solution? Open-source platforms, independent audits, and a stronger culture of cyber security across all levels of leadership.
