U.S. Officials Recommend Using Encrypted Messaging Apps
Officials of the FBI, National Security Agency (NSA), and Cybersecurity Infrastructure and Security Agency (CISA) strongly encourage us Americans to double down on our phone and computer security through encrypted apps.
December 10th, 2024 Update: Just a few days ago, cyber experts urged users to switch to fully secured platforms on their phones (instead of using the texting on your phone). They recommended using: WhatsApp, Signal, and Facebook Messenger. But, now the FBI issued a further security warning for U.S. citizens using encrypted platforms - that, those apps, it says, need to change too.
The latest warning: The FBI has expanded its warning - stating to Forbes: “law enforcement supports strong, responsibly managed encryption. This encryption should be designed to protect people’s privacy and also managed so U.S. tech companies can provide readable content in response to a lawful court order.”
Basically, the FBI has warned users not to use messaging on Google’s and Apple’s own platforms—full encryption doesn’t work cross-platform.
Multiple agencies are investigating a cybercriminal campaign nicknamed Salt Typhoon, speculated to be run by the People’s Republic of China. According to officials, Salt Typhoon enables their cybercriminals to successfully hack and interpret Americans’ business and individual data.
With this threat, the above agencies’ recommendations for encrypted app downloads continue, proving they’re a great defense against these foreign attacks. App encryption’s strict infrastructures successfully inhibit data interception. Jeff Greene, a CISA official, states, “Even if the adversary is able to intercept the data, if it is encrypted, it will make it impossible”.
Although encrypted apps appear as the first and foremost solution, hackers also achieve success through phishing attempts – one false click and our data could land in foreign territory - literally.
Despite an ambassador for the Chinese Embassy in D.C. disputing the cyberattack claims, security officials still encourage people to encrypt their devices.
But it’s not just our personal phones these hackers show interest in. As an FBI official has stated, many of these recent hacks happened around or in Washington, D.C. Officials investigating the mass cyberattacks state their main objective focuses on obtaining classified information and intelligence on the U.S. government and its respective leaders. In fact, this hacking campaign grew severe to the point where the 2024 presidential candidates and their respective campaigns were informed their data was accessed.
As always, the reason behind these cyberattacks point to the fact that hackers search for valuable data. From what FBI and CISA officials have investigated, Salt Typhoon hackers zeroed in on three types of data: 1) whose phones were accessed, the type of phone it’s on, and their messages sent and received. 2) live phone calls, 3) telecommunications systems, which are transmission systems that can electronically transfer information via satellite signals, cable, radio, voice, etc. These systems include federally classified court orders that enable tracking specific communications.
Finally, the argument against ‘responsible encryption’ is clear - content is either secure or it’s not, “a backdoor for anybody is a backdoor for everybody.”
Here at SpaceBound, we also encourage our customers to keep their data out of harm’s way. Under our Endpoint Security Services we provide many services that will protect your devices and data.
Sources:
Forbes: FBI Warns iPhone, Android Users—Change WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Signal Apps
NBC news: U.S. officials urge Americans to use encrypted apps amid cyberattack
