Russian-Backed Hackers Target Signal, WhatsApp Accounts Of Officials And Journalists

Last Updated:March 10, 2026, 10:27 IST

The chat apps, known for their end-to-end encryption, are widely used by government officials for sharing confidential or classified information.

Russian-backed hackers have launched a global cyber campaign targeting Signal and WhatsApp accounts used by officials, military personnel, and journalists, two Dutch intelligence agencies warned on Monday.

According to the agencies, users are lured in chats initiated by the hackers and persuaded to reveal security verification and PIN codes, giving the attackers access to personal accounts and group chats.

“The Russian hackers have likely gained access to sensitive information," said the General Dutch Intelligence Agency (AIVD) and Dutch Military Intelligence and Security Service (MIVD).

“Targets and victims of the campaign include Dutch government employees" and journalists, the agencies added.

The chat apps, known for their end-to-end encryption, are widely used by government officials for sharing confidential or classified information, making them “the ideal place for malicious actors to try to capture sensitive information," the agencies said.

Responding to the alert, WhatsApp told Reuters that users should never share their six-digit code with others and that it continues to build protections against online threats.

Signal added on social media that the attacks were “executed via sophisticated phishing campaigns, designed to trick users into sharing information" and confirmed that its encryption and infrastructure had not been compromised.

The hackers most often impersonate a Signal Support chatbot to trick targets into revealing their codes, which allows the attackers to take control of accounts, the statement said.

Another method involves exploiting the ‘linked devices’ function within Signal. Dutch authorities noted that contacts appearing twice in a user’s list, or numbers showing as “deleted account," could indicate a compromised account.

A spokesman said Dutch authorities issued a cyber advisory notifying government colleagues of the vulnerability and providing support to eliminate the threat, citing the joint operation with the AIVD general intelligence service.

“Despite their end-to-end encryption option, messaging apps such as Signal and WhatsApp should not be used as channels for classified, confidential or sensitive information," said MIVD director Vice-Admiral Peter Reesink.

News world Russian-Backed Hackers Target Signal, WhatsApp Accounts Of Officials And Journalists

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