FBI public warning on Signal and WhatsApp phishing
Public Sector Action
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The FBI issued a public service announcement warning that Signal and WhatsApp users are being targeted in phishing campaigns. The warning says the activity has already compromised thousands of accounts worldwide and is aimed at people with access to sensitive information. Attackers are using account hijacks and device-linking tricks rather than breaking end-to-end encryption. The alert matters because compromised accounts can expose private messages, contact lists, and trusted relationships.
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**Signal** added **in-app confirmations** and **warning messages** to slow phishing and social-engineering attempts that could expose **accounts**, **chats**, and **contacts**. Th...
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Latest development: 12.05.2026 22:40
Signal introduced new in-app confirmations, warning messages, and educational prompts to help users resist phishing and social engineering attempts, including bogus Signal Support lures and requests to scan QR codes or share registration codes, PINs, or recovery keys.
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BfV and BSI public warning on Signal phishing
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Timeline
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20.03.2026 22:45 2 articles · 2mo ago
FBI warns of Russian intelligence-linked Signal and WhatsApp phishing
Initial DisclosureFBI public service announcement warns that Russian intelligence-linked threat actors are targeting Signal and WhatsApp users with phishing messages that impersonate support accounts, trick victims into sharing verification codes or scanning malicious QR codes, and hijack accounts or linked devices without breaking end-to-end encryption; the activity has compromised thousands of accounts worldwide and focuses on people with access to sensitive information.
Show sources
- FBI links Signal phishing attacks to Russian intelligence services — www.bleepingcomputer.com — 20.03.2026 22:45
- FBI links Signal phishing attacks to Russian intelligence services — www.bleepingcomputer.com — 20.03.2026 22:45