FBI chief: Hackers linked to Russia attack instant messenger users

FBI Director Kash Patel announced the identification of Russian-linked hackers attacking instant messaging users, including former and current U.S. officials, military officials and journalists.

“The FBI has identified cyber actors associated with Russian intelligence targeting users of commercial messaging services such as Signal,” Patel wrote on X.

He added that hackers are attacking people important from the intelligence point of view, including current and former representatives of the US authorities, military personnel, politicians and journalists.

Patel said that “these actions led to unauthorized access to thousands of individual accounts.” “After gaining access, attackers can view messages and contact lists, send messages on behalf of the victim and conduct further phishing attacks using a trusted identity,” the FBI chief warned.

In the first half of March, the Dutch intelligence services AIVD and MIVD reported that Russian hackers were conducting a large-scale campaign to take over the accounts of Signal and WhatsApp users, including government officials, journalists and military personnel. Some of it was to be effectively taken over.

From Washington Natalia Dziurdzińska (PAP)

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