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Republican Congressman Reports Signal Account Compromised by Russian Operatives
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Republican Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska, a vocal critic of the Kremlin, has said his Signal account was compromised by actors linked to Russia.
The incident occurred about four to five months ago, and the congressman is currently working with both the FBI and House IT specialists to investigate the breach, according to Politico on June 11.
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Bacon, who serves as the chair of the House Armed Services Committee’s subcommittee on cyber issues, revealed the news during a cybersecurity conference in Washington. He explained that the attackers utilized a sophisticated social engineering tactic, posing as a trusted acquaintance to gain access to his account.
While the congressman expressed concern regarding the security of supposedly protected communication tools, he noted that he does not store sensitive government information on the app. "People think Signal's secure, but it's not," Bacon stated, emphasizing that he avoids using his mobile phone for classified discussions.
He further remarked that he has maintained a high level of caution regarding his devices for nearly two decades, noting, "I figure somebody's always monitoring my phone. This has been my reality since about 2006."
The incident comes amid growing warnings from US federal agencies regarding foreign-backed digital campaigns targeting US officials.
Authorities have identified a trend of attackers masquerading as support staff or contacts to infiltrate commercial messaging platforms. The company behind Signal has acknowledged that it is monitoring these types of campaigns closely and has issued guidance to help users mitigate such risks.
Bacon’s disclosure comes as he remains a steadfast supporter of Ukraine in its defense against Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
His oversight role in national defense policy frequently places him at the center of discussions regarding foreign interference and the protection of critical infrastructure.
Former top European cyber diplomat Casper Klynge warned that Europe’s push for digital sovereignty was ineffective without robust cybersecurity, especially as the continent faced a staggering surge in cyberattacks that reached up to 900 percent in certain sectors.
Speaking at the GLOBSEC 2026 forum, he emphasized that Ukraine served as the primary frontline for modern hybrid warfare, highlighting how cyber operations had become increasingly sophisticated and intertwined with physical threats.
Klynge further argued that while European institutions were striving for greater strategic autonomy, many organizations remained vulnerable due to a reliance on outdated legacy technology and a persistent, misplaced hope that they might avoid being targeted by hostile actors.
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