Salt Typhoon Hack Highlights Need for Encrypted Messaging Apps

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The hackers failed to compromise encrypted communications, demonstrating the value of robust encryption. However, unencrypted channels left a treasure trove of data vulnerable to exploitation.

Encryption Recommended: Your Best Defense

Experts strongly recommend using encrypted messaging apps to safeguard personal communications. Jeff Greene, executive assistant director for cybersecurity at CISA, emphasized:

“Encryption is your friend, whether it’s on text messaging or if you have the capacity to use encrypted voice communication. Even if the adversary intercepts the data, encryption makes it impossible to decipher.”

Encrypted apps like Signal, WhatsApp, and Telegram offer end-to-end encryption by default, protecting messages from prying eyes. Additionally, Google Messages now provides encrypted chats through the RCS protocol, and Apple recently adopted RCS for iMessage users, ensuring secure cross-platform communication for the first time.

The Five Eyes Issue Statement

The Five Eyes intelligence alliance (comprising the U.S., UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand) issued a joint statement with guidelines to bolster system defenses against hacks like Salt Typhoon.