Latest news with #SecureInternetProtocolRouterNetwork
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pete Hegseth Seems to Be Losing His Mind as Leaks Keep Coming
The walls seem to be closing in on Pete Hegseth. The defense secretary—who has drawn ire for his Crusader-level white supremacy, his alcoholism, and his rank misogyny—appears to be losing it as his double Signalgate fiasco just got even worse. The AP reported Thursday that Hegseth wanted to brag about his war plans on Signal so badly that he installed a 'dirty' or public internet connection in his private Pentagon office. This allows him to send messages from that connection without using his Defense Department IP address, effectively making him invisible as a user. This public connection usage also makes the highest-ranking defense official in the country much more vulnerable to hacking and spying. Hegseth is supposed to use either the Nonclassified Internet Protocol Router Network, the Secure Internet Protocol Router Network, or the top secret Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System. Shortly after, The Wall Street Journal published another damning report. Apparently Hegseth has been filled with anxiety and paranoia as turnover in his inner circle increases with each passing scandal. At least five Pentagon employees have been fired or resigned, and Hegseth even wants some of them to be criminally investigated. One staffer described it as a 'revolving door' so bad that they weren't sure who they were actually working with anymore, as Hegseth was at one point without a chief of staff, deputy chief of staff, or senior adviser. The Journal reports that Hegseth is on edge, suspects his own staffers of leaking information about his activities, and is more than anything scared of being fired by President Trump. And while Hegseth continues to attribute all of his struggles to some media witch hunt, the scandals continue to pile up. 'I didn't believe he had the requisite experience and skills to handle the toughest job in the cabinet before he was confirmed, and I have seen nothing in his performance so far that would disconfirm that judgment,' former Republican Pentagon official Eric Edelman told the Journal. Hegseth is only four months into his tenure as defense secretary. We'll see how far he makes it from here.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pete Hegseth Grows Even More Nervous as Damning Leaks Pile Up
The walls seem to be closing in on Pete Hegseth. The defense secretary—who has drawn ire for his Crusader-level white supremacy, his alcoholism, and his rank misogyny—appears to be losing it as his double Signalgate fiasco just got even worse. The AP reported Thursday that Hegseth wanted to brag about his war plans on Signal so badly that he installed a 'dirty' or public internet connection in his private Pentagon office. This allows him to send messages from that connection without using his Defense Department IP address, effectively making him invisible as a user. This public connection usage also makes the highest-ranking defense official in the country much more vulnerable to hacking and spying. Hegseth is supposed to use either the Nonclassified Internet Protocol Router Network, the Secure Internet Protocol Router Network, or the top secret Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System. Shortly after, The Wall Street Journal published another damning report. Apparently Hegseth has been filled with anxiety and paranoia as turnover in his inner circle increases with each passing scandal. At least five Pentagon employees have been fired or resigned, and Hegseth even wants some of them to be criminally investigated. One staffer described it as a 'revolving door' so bad that they weren't sure who they were actually working with anymore, as Hegseth was at one point without a chief of staff, deputy chief of staff, or senior adviser. The Journal reports that Hegseth is on edge, suspects his own staffers of leaking information about his activities, and is more than anything scared of being fired by President Trump. And while Hegseth continues to attribute all of his struggles to some media witch hunt, the scandals continue to pile up. 'I didn't believe he had the requisite experience and skills to handle the toughest job in the cabinet before he was confirmed, and I have seen nothing in his performance so far that would disconfirm that judgment,' former Republican Pentagon official Eric Edelman told the Journal. Hegseth is only four months into his tenure as defense secretary. We'll see how far he makes it from here.
Express Tribune
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Hegseth bypasses Pentagon security with unsecured internet line for Signal: AP
Listen to article US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had an unsecured internet line installed in his Pentagon office to access the encrypted messaging app Signal on a personal computer, bypassing government cybersecurity protocols, two officials familiar with the matter told the Associated Press. The so-called 'dirty' line directly connected to the public internet, sidestepping the Pentagon's secure systems like the Non-classified Internet Protocol Router Network (NIPRNet) and Secure Internet Protocol Router Network (SIPRNet). Experts warn that such lines expose users to potential hacking and surveillance and may violate federal recordkeeping requirements. The connection was reportedly used so Hegseth could use Signal more conveniently, including for chats in which he allegedly shared sensitive operational details about US airstrikes in Yemen. These messages, according to sources, included launch times and bomb drop information — data that would typically be classified. While Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell confirmed Hegseth has not used Signal on a government device, he declined to comment on specific communication setups, citing classification. Hegseth has denied leaking classified information, saying he never shared war plans. The Pentagon's inspector general is investigating Hegseth's communications after bipartisan concern from the Senate Armed Services Committee. Hegseth has recently dismissed multiple advisors and drawn scrutiny over his handling of sensitive military operations. The controversy has drawn comparisons to past incidents, including Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server — which Hegseth himself harshly criticized in 2016. The Trump administration continues to defend Hegseth, with Vice President JD Vance stating, 'I have 100% confidence in the secretary.' The potential breach comes amid broader concerns from US intelligence agencies about foreign actors targeting encrypted apps like Signal to access government communications.
Malay Mail
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Trump's defence secretary circumvented Pentagon security measures for ‘dirty line' to Signal
WASHINGTON, 25 April — US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth had an unsecured internet connection, known as a 'dirty' line, installed in his Pentagon office to use the Signal messaging app on a personal computer, according to two sources familiar with the matter. This revelation adds to growing concerns about Hegseth's handling of sensitive defence information and potential security vulnerabilities at the highest levels of the Department of Defence. The Associated Press reported that the unsecured connection bypassed Pentagon security protocols and could have exposed sensitive information to potential hacking or surveillance threats. Unlike standard Pentagon connections that employ robust security filters and protocols, a 'dirty' line connects directly to the public internet without these protections. While such connections are occasionally used in other Pentagon offices for specific monitoring purposes, they come with significant security risks. One major advantage of using such a line is that it masks the user's identity, preventing them from appearing as a Department of Defence IP address, according to a senior US official familiar with military network security. However, this setup potentially lacks the record-keeping compliance required by federal law and exposes users to the same security vulnerabilities as any public internet connection. The unsecured connection was reportedly installed specifically for Hegseth to use the Signal messaging app, which has become a central focus of controversy following revelations that he shared sensitive details about a military airstrike in Yemen against Houthi militants. The information was posted in two separate chat groups: one including his wife and brother, and another with President Donald Trump's top national security officials. When questioned about Hegseth's Signal use in his office, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell stated that the defence secretary's 'use of communications systems and channels is classified.' However, Parnell confirmed that 'the Secretary has never used and does not currently use Signal on his government computer,' suggesting the app may have been accessed through his personal device connected to the unsecured line. The Pentagon provides several secure communication options for high-ranking officials like Hegseth, including the Non-classified Internet Protocol Router Network for low-level sensitive information, the Secure Internet Protocol Router Network for secret-level classified information, and the Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System for top-secret information. Sources reported that Hegseth initially accessed Wi-Fi from a back area of his office before requesting a direct line at his desk for his personal computer. The security breach has added to the turmoil at the Pentagon, where Hegseth has already dismissed or transferred multiple close advisers while facing bipartisan questioning about his information handling practices. Despite these concerns, President Trump and his administration have continued to express full support for Hegseth, with Trump dismissing the reports as 'fake news' and Vice President JD Vance stating, 'I have 100 per cent confidence in the secretary.' Cybersecurity experts stressed that while Signal offers encrypted messaging, it is not authorised for handling sensitive or classified information and remains vulnerable to sophisticated hacking attempts. Theresa Payton, former White House chief information officer under President George W. Bush, warned that communications of senior government officials are prime targets for adversaries like Russia and China. Earlier this year, the National Security Agency issued warnings about foreign hackers potentially targeting government officials using Signal. The Department of Defence's acting inspector general is now investigating Hegseth's use of Signal at the request of bipartisan leadership from the Senate Armed Services Committee. The investigation centres on Hegseth pulling information about a Yemen strike from a secure US Central Command channel and sharing details such as exact launch times and bomb drop times before pilots had safely returned from their mission. Although Hegseth has vehemently denied posting 'war plans' or classified information, multiple current and former military and defence officials have stated that the operational details he shared would have been classified and could have endangered service members.
