Pete Hegseth's Troubles with Signal Deepen as Allegation of Unclean Online Connection Emerges
Hey there! So, it turns out that the United States Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, seems to have some, shall we say, questionable digital habits. You know, like using an encrypted messaging app called Signal on Pentagon devices, using an unsecured "dirty" internet line to bypass security protocols, and having his personal phone number easily traced online.
In a twist of events, three sources confirmed to The Washington Post that Hegseth had Signal installed on a desktop computer at the Pentagon. Now, Hegseth's spokesman, Sean Parnell, stated that he's never used and doesn't currently use Signal on his government computer. However, other sources told AP News that he occasionally had three office computers, including a personal one on which he installed the messaging app.
Looks like Hegseth wanted Signal on his computer to deal with the Pentagon's poor cell service and even considered installing a program to send conventional text messages. fun fact: the Pentagon banned personal devices like cellphones and laptops in classified spaces due to security concerns some years ago.
Now, if you think that's bad, consider this: Hegseth has a history of accidentally leaking sensitive information. Back in March, he accidentally texted Yemen war plans to the head editor of The Atlantic, leading to an investigation by the Defense Department's inspector general's office. Just this week, The New York Times reported that Hegseth shared sensitive war information with his family via Signal. While both Hegseth and the White House downplayed these leaks, stating that none of the information was classified.
To make matters worse, The Times found that Hegseth's personal cell phone is easily accessible online! You can trace it to Airbnb, Microsoft Teams, and even an email address linked to a Google Maps profile. Mike Casey, the former director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Services,warned, "There's zero percent chance that someone hasn't tried to install Pegasus or some other spyware on his phone. He is one of the top five, probably, most targeted people in the world for espionage."
Adding to the security concerns, Signal's auto-delete feature means that Hegseth and other federal agencies who use it might be in violation of the Federal Records Act. As Chioma Chukwu, interim Executive Director of American Oversight, which filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, said, "It is now evident the administration's unlawful use of Signal to conduct – and delete – sensitive government business is a feature and not a bug...This case concerns a clear and urgent threat to the preservation of government records."
Source:1. https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2021/04/29/pentagon-inspector-general-investigate-hegseth-data-leak/2. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/29/us/politics/pentagon-inspector-general-investigate-hegseth-data-leak.html
Enrichment Data:- Pentagon security concerns have been raised regarding Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's use of the encrypted messaging app Signal on both government devices and his personal cell phone.- Security concerns include the use of an unsecured internet connection, bypassing security protocols, and the potential for hacking and surveillance.- Hegseth has a history of accidentally leaking sensitive information and may be in violation of the Federal Records Act due to Signal's auto-delete feature.
- The controversy surrounding Pete Hegseth, the United States Secretary of Defense, continues to escalate due to his questionable digital habits, with the latest development being the confirmation from three sources that he had Signal installed on a Pentagon desktop.
- As the tech world buzzes with news of Hegseth's potential violation of the Federal Records Act due to Signal's auto-delete feature, Gizmodo sheds light on the broader implications of such actions in the realm of policy and legislation, politics, and even general news.
- Meanwhile, investigations into Hegseth's digital practices are underway due to concerns over war-and-conflicts, with The New York Times reporting that he shared sensitive war information with his family via Signal this week.
- In the face of mounting evidence of security lapses and potential policy breaches, crime-and-justice agencies keep a watchful eye on Hegseth's digital footprint, which is easily traceable online to various platforms such as Airbnb, Microsoft Teams, and a Google Maps profile.
