signal slip-up: u.s. officials accidentally leak attack plans
American officials accidentally added a journalist to a Signal chat, revealing plans for an attack on the Houthis in Yemen. How did this happen, and what does it mean for security?
What do you need to know?
- Signal is a messaging app that offers end-to-end encryption, meaning only the participants in the conversation have access to its contents.
- In February 2025, American officials mistakenly added a journalist to a Signal chat where military plans for attacks on Yemen were being discussed.
- The Pentagon prohibits the use of apps to transmit classified information, raising questions about the compliance of officials' actions with regulations.
Signal: how did the leak of secret information occur?
American officials inadvertently added an editor from "The Atlantic" to a group chat on Signal where military plans regarding attacks on Yemen were being discussed. National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes confirmed the authenticity of the messages and stated that an investigation is underway to determine how an unauthorized number was added to the chat.
Signal, known for its robust security, offers end-to-end encryption, which ensures even the app itself cannot access conversation contents. However, in this case, human error led to the disclosure of potentially classified information.
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Did Hegseth break Pentagon rules?
Pentagon rules clearly state that messaging apps are not authorized for processing classified information. Still, some officials in the Biden administration might have used Signal on their work phones, provided they did not share classified information there.
When discussing military plans, such as attacks on Yemen, the information would likely be classified as confidential. This raises concerns about whether officials' actions complied with current regulations.
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth was one of the members of the group on Signal.
Serious implications for security
As an open-source app, Signal allows users to verify whether it operates as claimed. Signal Foundation President Meredith Whittaker assures that due to advanced encryption, the app cannot provide data even to law enforcement agencies.
However, the incident involving American officials demonstrates that even the strongest technological safeguards can be undermined by human errors. This incident serves as a reminder of the need for caution and adherence to security guidelines when using messaging apps.
Source: Reuters, "The Sky News"
