US offers $10 million for info on group behind Signal and WhatsApp hacking spree | TheBriefWire
US offers $10 million for info on group behind Signal and WhatsApp hacking spree
Published 29 June 2026 ยท tech
Federal authorities are offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the identification or location of a Russian state cyber group
Federal authorities are offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the identification or location of a Russian state cyber group that has compromised thousands of Signal and WhatsApp accounts belonging to investigative reporters and US government employees.
The operation has been active since at least March, when the FBI published an advisory warning of ongoing phishing campaigns targeting high-value targets by attackers associated with Russian intelligence services.
Messages masquerading as automated support communications ask that users click a link or provide verification codes or account passcodes. In the event the user complies, they unknowingly link the attacker's device to their account or have their account completely taken over and are locked out.
Published: June 30, 2026 โข 3:35 AM IST ยท Updated: June 30, 2026 โข 5:35 AM ISTBy TheBriefWire Editorial Team
Key points
Federal authorities are offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the identification or location of a Russian state cyber group that has compromised thousands of Signal and WhatsApp accounts belonging to investigative reporters and US government employees.
The operation has been active since at least March, when the FBI published an advisory warning of ongoing phishing campaigns targeting high-value targets by attackers associated with Russian intelligence services.
Messages masquerading as automated support communications ask that users click a link or provide verification codes or account passcodes.
In the event the user complies, they unknowingly link the attacker's device to their account or have their account completely taken over and are locked out.