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MayReasonRule

(2,893 posts)
Wed Mar 26, 2025, 03:40 PM Mar 26

EXCLUSIVE: DOD has deployed Signal on government devices overriding their own policy

Source: F. P. Wellman On Substack

A high level source in DOD has confirmed that they were ordered to approve installation of Signal on government devices by Trump officials last month

Ignoring their own protocols

A high level information security source inside the Department of Defense has informed me that a month ago they were ordered by political appointees to ignore information security regulations and install Signal on government phones for senior leaders.

This story likely confirms that Signal is a primary means of communications for Trump Administration senior leaders in direct violation of the Presidential Records Act, the Espionage Act, and numerous national security regulations. It appears that much of our national security communications are vulnerable to foreign intelligence agencies to access at the highest levels of our government.

With the explosive news that senior Trump Administration officials had used a Signal chat group that included Atlantic Editor in Chief Jeffrey Goldberg to plan attacks on Yemen questions have been raised about how prevalent the use of the off the shelf civilian app is being used. I can confirm that it has become a primary means of communication.

Read more: https://fpwellman.substack.com/p/exclusive-dod-has-deployed-signal



[link:https://bsky.app/profile/meidastouch.com/post/3llcdoubjec2mMeidas is now reporting on it as well...]


58 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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EXCLUSIVE: DOD has deployed Signal on government devices overriding their own policy (Original Post) MayReasonRule Mar 26 OP
Kick SheltieLover Mar 26 #1
Damn them!!! Their intentions revealed!!!! Ninga Mar 26 #2
What is being left out of a lot of conversation about Signal neohippie Mar 26 #3
The whole damn lot of them are compromised & complicit. NotHardly Mar 26 #8
To not preserve and archive communications is the great feature of the app. LiberalArkie Mar 26 #10
They are using it to get around records and retention laws. underpants Mar 26 #33
Yep. The DNC recommended it also during the 2016 election LiberalArkie Mar 26 #35
The DNC isn't the Fedrul Gubmint maxsolomon Thursday #56
Yes, The feds preferred the SMS messages which were not encrypted at all. Still are not. LiberalArkie Thursday #57
They knew better, but they wanted the assumed secrecy and the quick erasure of the whole communication chain. Lonestarblue Thursday #52
The NSA did its due diligence of 'duty to warn.' Now SCOTUS has to do its job and ban all govt comms use of Signal. ancianita Thursday #55
They will get someone in the military or CIA killed. Irish_Dem Mar 26 #4
They Slaughtered At Least 800,000 Of Us During The First Wave Of COVID Is My Understanding... MayReasonRule Mar 26 #21
Yes Irish_Dem Mar 26 #23
several CIA agents were killed at the end of Dump's first term, thought to be from him giving away LymphocyteLover Thursday #49
Yes a number of assets and agents went missing. Irish_Dem Thursday #50
So does Elon or the Tr*ump Organization have a financial stake in Signal? sinkingfeeling Mar 26 #5
Indeed. Relevant. Inquiring Minds Would Like To Know. MayReasonRule Mar 26 #22
They are using it to get around records laws. underpants Mar 26 #32
A lot of people are missing this critical point radical noodle Mar 26 #44
The administration wants to distract the public from this point IronLionZion Mar 26 #46
Twitter did, but that was before Elon LiberalArkie Mar 26 #36
Maybe that. Maybe just following Putin's orders Attilatheblond Mar 26 #40
I would not be surprised if they did. Delmette2.0 Mar 26 #43
So it was ordered by the montanacowboy Mar 26 #6
I expect an end to questions from the press soon. Harker Mar 26 #15
Schrodeinger's Chat... It's Both Classified And Un-Classified... It Both Happened And Never Happened... MayReasonRule Mar 26 #24
Poor Elon. Left out... SKKY Mar 26 #7
Sure enough. Orangecrush's topic was right on the money. Karasu Mar 26 #9
This also blows one of the RW Ministries of Propaganda talking points Best_man23 Mar 26 #11
Some, with permission, did use it sparingly and basically just for notifying someone....... chowder66 Mar 26 #19
They refer to sites like this. Igel Mar 26 #41
A bunch of criminal, fascists trying to cover their tracks... IrishAfricanAmerican Mar 26 #12
A Putin-ordered move to be sure. dchill Mar 26 #13
With Gabbard installed, Putin doesn't need to waste as much time explaining things as when dealing with Trumpsky. n/t Harker Mar 26 #17
The DOD already had contracts for Wickr IbogaProject Mar 26 #14
TIL -- I Was Wholly Unaware Of The Wickr Contracts MayReasonRule Mar 26 #20
Wickr is named as each step was encrypted like a basket IbogaProject Mar 26 #39
Both of those are decent if one recognizes their limits IbogaProject Saturday #58
This is the kind of opsec debacle that lost a F-117. Marcuse Mar 26 #16
Well Done! MayReasonRule Mar 26 #18
I guess it makes it easy for Russia. And anyone else who hacks Signal. 58Sunliner Mar 26 #25
Almost a signal of total stand down. bucolic_frolic Mar 26 #30
Firing squad. kacekwl Mar 26 #26
If true, there needs to be prison time. Martin Eden Mar 26 #27
As Long As I'm Online This Evening I'll Continue To Check For Updates From Other Sources MayReasonRule Mar 26 #28
No word on 5pm news yet, as the topic is being discussed Martin Eden Mar 26 #29
Right On. Thank's Y'all! MayReasonRule Mar 26 #31
So who, specifically, signed off on the contract to install Signal on government devices? fargone Mar 26 #34
this was included in Project 2025 Skittles Mar 26 #37
The point is that ordinary phones are wildly vulnerable, despite "Secure" apps. usonian Mar 26 #38
NOW can we boot the monsters out??? ailsagirl Mar 26 #42
It's a disgrace proud patriot Mar 26 #45
"Policy"?? What policy? Jack Valentino Mar 26 #47
I call Wildfire. The whole apparatus of our military is now wide open to Russia. AmericaUnderSiege Thursday #48
Simple and easy for our congressmen and spokespeople: repeat as needed Hieronymus Phact Thursday #51
Reason for Signal use Jvp Thursday #53
The First Rule About NSA Signals Intelligence Is That You Don't Talk About NSA Signals Intelligence MayReasonRule Thursday #54

neohippie

(1,221 posts)
3. What is being left out of a lot of conversation about Signal
Wed Mar 26, 2025, 03:49 PM
Mar 26

The use of the app is approved by the Whitehouse for comms, the use of the app likely violates the requirement by the Federal Records Act to preserve and archive communications

And the fact that just last month in February the NSA sent out a bulletin warning about vulnerabilities and exploits that had them deem the app not safe to use so these people should have all known better

LiberalArkie

(17,785 posts)
10. To not preserve and archive communications is the great feature of the app.
Wed Mar 26, 2025, 04:19 PM
Mar 26

No need to worry about tracing calls, when a touch of an icon and you are chatting away with the lord Vladimir.

LiberalArkie

(17,785 posts)
57. Yes, The feds preferred the SMS messages which were not encrypted at all. Still are not.
Thu Mar 27, 2025, 06:49 PM
Thursday

The new RCS messages solved that between Android and IOS devices.

Lonestarblue

(12,499 posts)
52. They knew better, but they wanted the assumed secrecy and the quick erasure of the whole communication chain.
Thu Mar 27, 2025, 09:20 AM
Thursday

Is Pam Bondi ready to investigate and prosecute violations of federal records laws? No. She’s loyal to Trump, not the law.

ancianita

(40,215 posts)
55. The NSA did its due diligence of 'duty to warn.' Now SCOTUS has to do its job and ban all govt comms use of Signal.
Thu Mar 27, 2025, 12:50 PM
Thursday

Yeah, we know SCOTUS can't enforce the ruling, but it's an historical record, nonetheless.

Also, the NSA could also monitor the US Military's or Homeland Security or DoD people's further use of Signal and produce (or preserve) documentations that prove persistent violation of US laws.

Irish_Dem

(67,214 posts)
4. They will get someone in the military or CIA killed.
Wed Mar 26, 2025, 03:50 PM
Mar 26

Perhaps they already have, we will never be told.

MayReasonRule

(2,893 posts)
21. They Slaughtered At Least 800,000 Of Us During The First Wave Of COVID Is My Understanding...
Wed Mar 26, 2025, 05:32 PM
Mar 26
Behold their field of fucks.

Note that it is barren.




Irish_Dem

(67,214 posts)
23. Yes
Wed Mar 26, 2025, 05:35 PM
Mar 26

And by stopping the funds for many domestic and foreign aid programs, there will be many deaths.

LymphocyteLover

(7,669 posts)
49. several CIA agents were killed at the end of Dump's first term, thought to be from him giving away
Thu Mar 27, 2025, 07:50 AM
Thursday

their info to Putin, his master

Irish_Dem

(67,214 posts)
50. Yes a number of assets and agents went missing.
Thu Mar 27, 2025, 07:53 AM
Thursday

One agent at the Kremlin had to have an immediate extraction from the premises.
Got out in the nick of time.

radical noodle

(9,780 posts)
44. A lot of people are missing this critical point
Wed Mar 26, 2025, 10:24 PM
Mar 26

What exactly are they hiding or planning to hide?

IronLionZion

(48,280 posts)
46. The administration wants to distract the public from this point
Wed Mar 26, 2025, 11:41 PM
Mar 26

they don't want records archived or used in future legal consequences against them. Records keeping was the downfall of many Nazis at the Nuremburg trials.

LiberalArkie

(17,785 posts)
36. Twitter did, but that was before Elon
Wed Mar 26, 2025, 07:22 PM
Mar 26
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signal_(software)


2010–2013: Origins
Signal is the successor of the RedPhone encrypted voice calling app and the TextSecure encrypted texting program. The beta versions of RedPhone and TextSecure were first launched in May 2010 by Whisper Systems,[55] a startup company co-founded by security researcher Moxie Marlinspike and roboticist Stuart Anderson.[56][57] Whisper Systems also produced a firewall and tools for encrypting other forms of data.[56][58] All of these were proprietary enterprise mobile security software and were only available for Android.

In November 2011, Whisper Systems announced that it had been acquired by Twitter. Neither company disclosed the financial terms of the deal.[59] The acquisition was done "primarily so that Mr. Marlinspike could help the then-startup improve its security".[60] Shortly after the acquisition, Whisper Systems' RedPhone service was made unavailable.[61] Some criticized the removal, arguing that the software was "specifically targeted [to help] people under repressive regimes" and that it left people like the Egyptians in "a dangerous position" during the events of the Egyptian revolution of 2011.[62]

Twitter released TextSecure as free and open-source software under the GPLv3 license in December 2011.[56][63][64][65] RedPhone was also released under the same license in July 2012.[66] Marlinspike later left Twitter and founded Open Whisper Systems as a collaborative Open Source project for the continued development of TextSecure and RedPhone.[1][67]

montanacowboy

(6,469 posts)
6. So it was ordered by the
Wed Mar 26, 2025, 03:52 PM
Mar 26

big fat orange slob's Officials? and he KNEW Nothing?????????

Oh Karoline, please talk him out of this one you lying lump of shit - by the way you need a much bigger cross

Harker

(15,960 posts)
15. I expect an end to questions from the press soon.
Wed Mar 26, 2025, 05:08 PM
Mar 26

Just her lying for five minutes, then skipping off.

MayReasonRule

(2,893 posts)
24. Schrodeinger's Chat... It's Both Classified And Un-Classified... It Both Happened And Never Happened...
Wed Mar 26, 2025, 05:39 PM
Mar 26


Best_man23

(5,214 posts)
11. This also blows one of the RW Ministries of Propaganda talking points
Wed Mar 26, 2025, 04:21 PM
Mar 26

That the Biden administration was using Signal when they got there and the Convicted Felon's junta just continued the practice.

chowder66

(10,303 posts)
19. Some, with permission, did use it sparingly and basically just for notifying someone.......
Wed Mar 26, 2025, 05:24 PM
Mar 26

Signal touts the privacy of its service — and experts agree it is more secure than conventional texting.

But it could be hacked.

Government officials have used Signal for organizational correspondence, such as scheduling sensitive meetings, but in the Biden administration, people who had permission to download it on their White House-issued phones were instructed to use the app sparingly, according to a former national security official who served in the administration.

The official, who requested anonymity to speak about methods used to share sensitive information, said Signal was most commonly used to notify someone that they should check for a classified message sent through other means.

more at the link....
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/heres-what-to-know-about-signal-the-messaging-app-used-in-apparent-leak-war-plans-journalist

Igel

(36,665 posts)
41. They refer to sites like this.
Wed Mar 26, 2025, 09:00 PM
Mar 26
https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/2024-12/guidance-mobile-communications-best-practices.pdf

Best Practices
CISA strongly urges highly targeted individuals to immediately review and apply the best practices below to
protect mobile communications. Highly targeted individuals should assume that all communications between
mobile devices—including government and personal devices—and internet services are at risk of interception
or manipulation. While no single solution eliminates all risks, implementing these best practices significantly
enhances protection of sensitive communications against government-affiliated and other malicious cyber
actors. Organizations may already have these best practices in place, such as secure communication
platforms1 and multifactor authentication (MFA) policies. In cases where organizations do not, apply the
following best practices to your mobile devices.

General Recommendations

Apply these best practices to your devices and online accounts.

1. Use only end-to-end encrypted communications.
 Adopt a free messaging application for secure communications that guarantees end-to-end
encryption, such as Signal or similar apps. CISA recommends an end-to-end encrypted messaging
app that is compatible with both iPhone and Android operating systems, allowing for text message
interoperability across platforms. Such apps may also offer clients for MacOS, Windows, and Linux,
and sometimes the web. These apps typically support one-on-one text chats, group chats with up to
1,000 participants, and encrypted voice and video calls. Additionally, they may include features
like disappearing messages and images, which can enhance privacy....


The doc is dated 12/24.

Harker

(15,960 posts)
17. With Gabbard installed, Putin doesn't need to waste as much time explaining things as when dealing with Trumpsky. n/t
Wed Mar 26, 2025, 05:12 PM
Mar 26

IbogaProject

(4,195 posts)
14. The DOD already had contracts for Wickr
Wed Mar 26, 2025, 04:54 PM
Mar 26

Similar platform but w enterprise features and ability to have records retention.

MayReasonRule

(2,893 posts)
20. TIL -- I Was Wholly Unaware Of The Wickr Contracts
Wed Mar 26, 2025, 05:26 PM
Mar 26
https://wickr.com/wickr-awarded-us-air-force-contract/

Interesting.

What additional light might you shine on Wickr and Signal?

I've been out of the intelligence community loop since my father's passing 20 years ago. He was Army Security Agency, Corp Of Engineers, and Signal Corps. I was marching by the time I could walk, lol...
Parade turns and everything!
Anyway, lol...
Thank you for that additional info and I'd truly enjoy it if you're able to elucidate further!

IbogaProject

(4,195 posts)
39. Wickr is named as each step was encrypted like a basket
Wed Mar 26, 2025, 08:43 PM
Mar 26

The username password structure lost out to Signal, Telegram and WhatsApp which use phone numbers for id. Signal was designed by an ex NSA guy w CIA money. Signal is opensource but any security it or any of the rest relies on the device's security. Wickr got bought by Amazon and is subscription only now with a heavy enterprise focus. It has use in areas that need a mix of security with convience. Best for financial pros and the medical community where privacy and record retention are important but not for serious security uses. Light military use like calling muster is within its scope.

IbogaProject

(4,195 posts)
58. Both of those are decent if one recognizes their limits
Sat Mar 29, 2025, 04:35 PM
Saturday

The main issue is the phone operation system as anything on a screen can be imaged. Signal was funded with a CIA grant and started by a young NSA alum. Wickr had former Nat Sec principals but they had a different focus, they decided to make as secure an app as they could and succeeded with the limit of security of the phone it self and the end user. It is called Wickr as it uses separate encryption for each stage of the process woven like a basket. But these clowns are just going rogue and using the app to evade record keeping laws. My opnion Signal is fine for things like when looking for a job, planning a surprise party and maybe sharing investment tips it isn't for this type of use. Wickr is for low level secure stuff like calling troops to muster, medical professionals, any type of work that requires some information security and privacy.

Marcuse

(8,255 posts)
16. This is the kind of opsec debacle that lost a F-117.
Wed Mar 26, 2025, 05:11 PM
Mar 26
‘Worse yet, the Yugoslavian anti air forces knew that the Prowlers were grounded, and knew that the F-117s were going to fly a strike mission anyway. How did they know? Because the Serbs had spotters and human intelligence assets in Italy, where the strike missions were flying from. They had also compromised NATO communications in the area, and had civilian source in Italy feeding them intelligence who had access to operational information. In short, the NATO forces had a massive failure in operation security, OPSEC, that was feeding valuable data to the enemy. The Serbs knew the strike was coming, knew the general route, and knew the F-117s would be flying without electronic warfare support.

The F-117 took blast and fragment damage. Flight control was lost, and the pilot was forced to eject.
https://theaviationgeekclub.com/an-in-depth-analysis-of-how-serbs-were-able-to-shoot-down-an-f-117-stealth-fighter-during-operation-allied-force/

58Sunliner

(5,538 posts)
25. I guess it makes it easy for Russia. And anyone else who hacks Signal.
Wed Mar 26, 2025, 05:56 PM
Mar 26

At least our enemies won't be in the dark.

Martin Eden

(14,066 posts)
27. If true, there needs to be prison time.
Wed Mar 26, 2025, 06:16 PM
Mar 26

I don't doubt that it's true. These fascists don't want their high level conversations archived in the records.

MayReasonRule

(2,893 posts)
28. As Long As I'm Online This Evening I'll Continue To Check For Updates From Other Sources
Wed Mar 26, 2025, 06:21 PM
Mar 26

I always like to confirm from three or more whenever possible.

I've got two at the moment.

Might you have another?

Martin Eden

(14,066 posts)
29. No word on 5pm news yet, as the topic is being discussed
Wed Mar 26, 2025, 06:28 PM
Mar 26

MSM may be waiting for corroboration.

MayReasonRule

(2,893 posts)
31. Right On. Thank's Y'all!
Wed Mar 26, 2025, 06:48 PM
Mar 26

I'm oven roasting bacon wrapped chili powder rubbed corn on the cob and heatin' up last night's Italian Skillet medley to pair with this Juicy India Pale Ale from Hammond, LA.

It's a gorgeous day down here in North Louisiana.

Spring has sprung and there's not a damn thing that the fascists ruling my state and our nation can do about it!a

Laissez les bon temps rouler!

fargone

(344 posts)
34. So who, specifically, signed off on the contract to install Signal on government devices?
Wed Mar 26, 2025, 07:16 PM
Mar 26

Tulsi Gabbard in hearings today said it was pre-installed on government devices. That doesn't happen without a contract.

usonian

(16,849 posts)
38. The point is that ordinary phones are wildly vulnerable, despite "Secure" apps.
Wed Mar 26, 2025, 07:52 PM
Mar 26
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=20178471

It’s so damn easy to extract any data, even as you type it in.

Save yourself that long and tedious video. Videos put me to sleep.

It was all to circumvent government record retention rules. Like Dump, with borrowed and burner phones.

Jack Valentino

(1,720 posts)
47. "Policy"?? What policy?
Wed Mar 26, 2025, 11:56 PM
Mar 26

They do whatever the hell they want, and have no clue about any laws previously in place---
and further, they don't care what the laws say.... Trump trumps everything, in their minds.


When we eventually regain control of the government, as we surely WILL,
there must be a reckoning for these lawbreakers---
such as there NEVER was under Clinton or Obama---

They must PAY, so we never need to go back to such a place again.

Hieronymus Phact

(557 posts)
51. Simple and easy for our congressmen and spokespeople: repeat as needed
Thu Mar 27, 2025, 08:43 AM
Thursday

"Keeping secrets from the US is more important than keeping secrets from our enemies."

Jvp

(23 posts)
53. Reason for Signal use
Thu Mar 27, 2025, 11:56 AM
Thursday

I think I read somewhere that the messages disappear at some point, making conversations/!evidence that is usually preserved gone!. No investigations will be able to tract their interactions.

MayReasonRule

(2,893 posts)
54. The First Rule About NSA Signals Intelligence Is That You Don't Talk About NSA Signals Intelligence
Thu Mar 27, 2025, 12:07 PM
Thursday

The NSA collects all signals intelligence worldwide.
The NSA has them, they would just merely need to decrypt them... which no one does better.

It's a matter of requesting, litigating, and surviving the ride.

It's the sole purview of FISA court.

Speaking of which, James Boasberg is truly a remarkable individual, a stellar example of judicial resolve and dedication to the rule of law.

Hear, hear!!

I'm four days older than James.
He's an exemplary person, here's to his ongoing success!

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