A sophisticated hacking campaign, linked to Russian intelligence services, has successfully compromised the private Signal and WhatsApp accounts of European officials, military personnel, and journalists. The revelation comes from a joint advisory by the Netherlands' General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD) and its Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIVD). The hackers employed a clever social engineering tactic, often posing as a chat-based customer support bot to trick users into revealing verification codes. In some cases, they exploited the 'linked devices' feature within the apps to gain entry. Dutch authorities have formally alerted allied governments about the vulnerability and are providing technical support to mitigate the threat. The incident has prompted a stark warning from intelligence chiefs about the limits of app-based encryption. "Even with end-to-end encryption, platforms like Signal and WhatsApp are not suitable for sharing secret, confidential, or highly sensitive information," stated MIVD Director, Vice Admiral Pieter Rietink. The disclosure follows recent reports tying Russian hacking groups DarkWarios and QuietSec to breaches of Ukraine's military communication systems, including the Milchat messenger and the 'Oberig+' electronic conscription service, highlighting a persistent digital espionage front.

Source: Lenta.RU