US Rewards $10 Million for Tips on Signal Hacking Threats

WHO:

Ars Technica - Two Russian state groups are involved in the hacking spree targeting Signal and WhatsApp.

TechRadar - Russian Intelligence is conducting a phishing campaign.

WHAT:

Ars Technica - The U.S. government is offering a reward of $10 million for information leading to the identification of the group behind the Signal and WhatsApp hacking.

TechRadar - The phishing campaign aims to hijack Signal accounts by tricking users into sending their Backup Recovery Keys.

WHERE:

Ars Technica - The hacking spree is targeting users of Signal and WhatsApp, which are used globally.

WHEN:

Ars Technica - The operation by the two Russian state groups has been ongoing since at least March.

WHY:

TechRadar - The motivation behind the phishing campaign is to target VIPs and high-value government and military targets.

HOW:

TechRadar - The method used involves tricking users into sending their Backup Recovery Keys to gain unauthorized access to their Signal accounts.

(UPDATED June 30, 2026 01:43 UTC)

Two Russian state groups are currently involved in a hacking spree that targets users of Signal and WhatsApp, with the U.S. government offering a reward of $10 million for information leading to the identification of those responsible. This phishing campaign aims to hijack Signal accounts by tricking users into sending their Backup Recovery Keys, and it has been ongoing since at least March. The operation primarily focuses on VIPs and high-value government and military targets, highlighting the serious implications of this cyber threat.