Tech Desk 
May 05, 2025
In a surprising turn of events, a messaging app similar to Signal, reportedly used by Mike Waltz, a former adviser to the US National Security Council, has been hacked.
The cyberattack has raised concerns about the security of sensitive government communications.
Citing a report by tech outlet 404 Media, Reuters reported that a hacker exploited a vulnerability in TeleMessage, an imitation of the popular messaging platform Signal in terms of design and functionality.
It was also learned that Waltz used the app during a cabinet meeting, just days before he was removed from his position.
The breach is said not to have covered messages from Waltz or other officials, the report highlighted.
The hacker, unidentified so far, was claimed to have accessed TeleMessage’s backend infrastructure and intercepted messages from other users.
TeleMessage, developed by Oregon-based company Smarsh and being rebranded as Capture Mobile, is different from Signal, which prioritises end-to-end encryption. Instead, TeleMessage is designed to store decrypted messages, which is in line with the government's record-keeping regulations.
While TeleMessage's this particular property is useful, it is prone to getting exposed to vulnerabilities if not protected well.
A Signal spokesperson claimed that unofficial versions of the app cannot offer the same privacy as the official platform.
