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Technical analysis of the Signal clone used by Trump officials (micahflee.com)

807 points by micahflee · 455 days ago · 339 comments on HN

Article summary

A Reuters photographer captured a photo of Mike Waltz, a former National Security Advisor, using an unofficial version of the Signal app called TM SGNL. The app is designed to archive messages and is likely violating Signal's open source license. The company behind TM SGNL, TeleMessage, has executives with ties to the Israeli Defense Forces' Intelligence unit. The app is not publicly available and can only be installed on devices enrolled in a managed service.

Main themes

  • Signal clone
  • National security
  • Israel-US relations
  • Messaging app security
  • Intel gathering
  • Foreign access to US information
  • Economic value of mandatory draft

What commenters say

  • The use of a Signal clone by Trump officials raises concerns about the security and potential exploitation of sensitive information by foreign entities.
  • The fact that the app is controlled by former Israeli intelligence officers is a significant aspect of the story, given the potential for conflicts of interest and access to valuable information.
  • The US and Israel have a complex and intertwined relationship, with Israel having significant access to US plans and information, which could be a concern in terms of national security.
  • The use of a modified version of a secure messaging app like Signal may compromise the security of the communications, even if the encryption itself is not broken.
  • Some argue that the story is not about the app itself, but about the economic value produced by Israel's mandatory draft and the networking opportunities it provides.
  • Others believe that the focus on the Israeli connection is overblown and that the story is more about the potential security risks of using a modified messaging app.
  • There are different opinions on the level of threat posed by Israel's access to US information, with some considering it a significant concern and others seeing it as a normal part of the US-Israel relationship.
  • The discussion also touches on the idea that everyone is tapping everyone else to the extent they can get away with it, and that this is a common practice in international relations.