How not to use Signal.

Friend,

Last week, it was hard to miss the Signal scandal heard round the world, after top Trump officials added the wrong number to their group chat casually discussing war plans.

On March 15, National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, among other officials, used an unsecured Signal chat to plan airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen. The messages contained sensitive details—target locations, weapons packages, attack timing—all sent to a journalist because someone added the wrong number.

What they did isn’t just reckless, it’s illegal. Discussing military operations in a Signal chat threatens national security and violates strict security protocols. But beyond carelessness, there’s a deeper hypocrisy: this same administration is ramping up surveillance on government workers, monitoring their communications while bypassing official government channels themselves to avoid oversight. If top officials are this careless, it’s a reminder that privacy isn’t automatic—you must protect it.

At STOP, we still recommend Signal—if used correctly. That means enabling disappearing messages, being cautious in large group chats, and being mindful that no app is foolproof.

In response to a surge of requests from government workers seeking to secure their communications from growing digital threats, we developed the Securer Devices and Communication guide. This guide provides a detailed approach to securing communications, including key practices such as separating work and personal devices, using TOR instead of a VPN for enhanced privacy, and opting for high-quality encrypted messaging apps like Signal.

Stay informed. Stay secure.

In solidarity,
Albert Fox Cahn
Executive Director

Newslettercommunications staffApril 3, 2025