TeleMessage Hack Prompts Service Suspension and Probe

TeleMessage, an Israeli company that offers modified encrypted messaging apps for archiving government communications, has suspended all services following a major security breach that exposed sensitive data from agencies like US Customs and Border Protection and companies such as Coinbase. The hack, accomplished in under 30 minutes, revealed contact information, group chat contents, internal credentials, and raised concerns about the vulnerability of unofficial messaging platforms used by government officials. Former National Security Advisor Mike Waltz was scrutinized for using TeleMessage, intensifying concerns after a separate incident where he inadvertently invited a journalist to a classified chat. Experts warn that TeleMessage’s compliance-driven archiving undermines end-to-end encryption and leaves chat logs exposed. The breach has reignited debate over the trade-off between compliance requirements and security in federal communications. TeleMessage’s parent company, Smarsh, has engaged external cybersecurity experts and pledged transparency as the investigation continues.