The Guardian reports that Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was inadvertently added to a Signal group chat containing dozens of Biden administration officials due to a typo in his phone number. The chat, intended for senior staff communication, briefly exposed Goldberg to internal discussions before the error was noticed and he was removed. While Goldberg himself didn't leak the chat's contents, the incident highlights the potential for accidental disclosure of sensitive information through insecure communication practices, especially in a digital age where typos are common. The leak itself, originating from within the chat, exposed the Biden administration's internal debates about handling classified documents and the Afghanistan withdrawal.
Briar is a messaging app designed for high-security and censored environments. It uses peer-to-peer encryption, meaning messages are exchanged directly between devices rather than through a central server. This decentralized approach eliminates single points of failure and surveillance. Briar can connect directly via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi in proximity, or through the Tor network for more distant contacts, further enhancing privacy. Users add contacts by scanning a QR code or sharing a link. While Briar prioritizes security, it also supports blogs and forums, fostering community building in challenging situations.
Hacker News users discussed Briar's reliance on Tor for peer discovery, expressing concerns about its speed and reliability. Some questioned the practicality of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi mesh networking as a fallback, doubting its range and usability. Others were interested in the technical details of Briar's implementation, particularly its use of SQLite and the lack of end-to-end encryption for blog posts. The closed-source nature of the Android app was also raised as a potential issue, despite the project being open source overall. Several commenters compared Briar to other secure messaging apps like Signal and Session, highlighting trade-offs between usability and security. Finally, there was some discussion of the project's funding and its potential use cases in high-risk environments.
Google's Threat Analysis Group (TAG) observed multiple Russia-aligned threat actors, including APT29 (Cozy Bear) and Sandworm, actively targeting Signal users. These campaigns primarily focused on stealing authentication material from Signal servers, likely to bypass Signal's robust encryption and gain access to user communications. Although Signal's server-side infrastructure was targeted, the attackers needed physical access to the device to complete the compromise, significantly limiting the attack's effectiveness. While Signal's encryption remains unbroken, the targeting underscores the lengths to which nation-state actors will go to compromise secure communications.
HN commenters express skepticism about the Google blog post, questioning its timing and motivations. Some suggest it's a PR move by Google, designed to distract from their own security issues or promote their own messaging platforms. Others point out the lack of technical details in the post, making it difficult to assess the credibility of the claims. A few commenters discuss the inherent difficulties of securing any messaging platform against determined state-sponsored actors and the importance of robust security practices regardless of the provider. The possibility of phishing campaigns, rather than Signal vulnerabilities, being the attack vector is also raised. Finally, some commenters highlight the broader context of the ongoing conflict and the increased targeting of communication platforms.
Summary of Comments ( 29 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43601213
Hacker News commenters discuss the irony of a journalist infiltrating a supposedly secure Signal group chat aimed at keeping communications private. Several highlight the ease with which Goldberg seemingly gained access, suggesting a lack of basic security practices like invite links or even just asking who added him. This led to speculation about whether it was a deliberate leak orchestrated by someone within the group, questioning the true level of concern over the exposed messages. Some commenters debated the newsworthiness of the leak itself, with some dismissing the content as mundane while others found the revealed dynamics and candid opinions interesting. The overall sentiment reflects skepticism about the security practices of supposedly tech-savvy individuals and amusement at the awkward situation.
The Hacker News comments section for the article "How the Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg Got Added to the White House Signal Chat" contains a lively discussion with several interesting points raised. Many commenters express skepticism about the supposed security of Signal, pointing out that metadata, such as who is in a group chat, is still vulnerable even if message content remains encrypted. This vulnerability is central to the article's narrative, as Goldberg's presence in the Signal group revealed connections and information despite the encrypted nature of the messages themselves.
Several commenters discuss the implications of using Signal, or any encrypted messaging platform, for official government communications. Some argue that such usage is a violation of record-keeping laws and transparency requirements, while others contend that officials have a right to private communications. This debate highlights the tension between security, privacy, and public accountability.
One commenter speculates that Goldberg's inclusion might have been intentional, suggesting it could have been a way to leak information strategically. This theory introduces an element of intrigue and raises questions about the motivations behind Goldberg's addition to the group.
Another commenter draws parallels to previous instances of journalists being privy to sensitive information, highlighting the complex relationship between journalists and their sources. This comment provides historical context for the Goldberg incident and underscores the ethical considerations involved in such relationships.
The technical details of Signal's security features are also discussed. Some commenters point out that Signal offers "sealed sender" functionality, which would prevent the metadata leak described in the article. This discussion delves into the nuances of Signal's features and suggests that the incident might have been avoidable with proper configuration.
Furthermore, several commenters express frustration with what they perceive as sensationalist reporting, arguing that the article overstates the security implications of the incident. They point out that simply knowing who is in a group chat, without access to the message content, doesn't necessarily constitute a major security breach.
Finally, some comments criticize the article for focusing on the technical aspects of the leak rather than the underlying political implications. These commenters shift the focus from Signal's security to the broader context of White House communications and potential manipulation of information.
In summary, the comments on Hacker News provide a multifaceted perspective on the Goldberg incident, covering technical details of Signal's security, ethical considerations for journalists and government officials, potential political motivations, and criticism of the article's framing.