FBI warns Russian hackers are phishing Signal and WhatsApp users to hijack accounts and access private messages.
U.S. cybersecurity agencies have issued a warning about a phishing campaign linked to Russian threat actors targeting users of encrypted messaging platforms, including Signal and WhatsApp.
The alert, released by the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), states that attackers are attempting to compromise accounts through social engineering tactics designed to trick victims into revealing login credentials or authentication codes.
According to the advisory, the campaign primarily targets individuals with access to sensitive information, including government officials, journalists, activists, and military personnel. Attackers reportedly pose as trusted contacts or technical support representatives to persuade victims to provide verification codes or approve malicious login attempts.
Once access to an account is obtained, attackers can monitor private conversations, download message histories, and potentially use the compromised account to target additional victims within the user’s contact network.
Officials emphasized that the attacks do not exploit vulnerabilities in the encryption systems used by Signal or WhatsApp. Instead, the hackers rely on phishing techniques and impersonation to bypass security protections.
Cybersecurity experts warn that messaging apps have become high-value targets for espionage campaigns due to the sensitive communications often shared on these platforms.
Authorities are advising users to remain cautious when receiving unexpected requests for login verification codes and to enable additional security protections such as registration locks and multi-factor authentication where available.
The advisory highlights the increasing use of social engineering by state-linked hackers seeking to access private communications without directly breaking encrypted messaging systems.
Reports are sourced from official documents, law-enforcement updates, and credible investigations.
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