Signal has issued a warning to users about scam messages after hackers targeted officials, highlighting the risk of social engineering tactics that attempt to trick people into handing over access to their accounts.
Signal, the encrypted messaging service, has warned users to be alert for scam messages following hacking attempts that targeted officials. The company’s notice focused on deceptive outreach designed to persuade recipients to reveal sensitive information or take actions that could compromise their accounts.
The warning comes amid continued attention on how attackers use social engineering—rather than technical exploits—to gain access to private communications. In such campaigns, attackers may impersonate trusted contacts or support personnel, or present urgent requests intended to prompt quick compliance.
Signal’s alert emphasized that users should treat unexpected messages requesting codes, account details, or other security-related information as suspicious. The company also urged users to rely on built-in security features and to verify requests through trusted channels when a message appears unusual.
## Scam tactics and account takeover risks
Signal’s warning centers on scams that aim to take over accounts by obtaining information that can be used to authenticate a login or register an account on a new device. Messaging platforms are frequent targets for these tactics because access to an account can provide attackers with a way to impersonate the victim, contact their network, and attempt further compromises.
Officials and other high-profile individuals are often targeted because their accounts may offer access to sensitive conversations or provide credibility for follow-on scams. Even when end-to-end encryption protects message content in transit, attackers can still seek to compromise accounts through credential theft, device access, or manipulation of account recovery processes.
Signal’s notice did not describe technical vulnerabilities in the app. Instead, it focused on user-facing deception, a common approach in which attackers attempt to convince a target to share a verification code or approve a login. Such scams can be delivered through messages that appear to come from a colleague, a friend, or an administrative contact.
## Guidance for users
Signal advised users to be cautious with messages that create urgency or request immediate action related to account security. The company’s warning underscored the importance of verifying unexpected requests through a separate, trusted method—such as contacting the person through a known phone number or an established communication channel—before taking any action.
The company also pointed users toward security practices that reduce the likelihood of account compromise. These include using available in-app protections and being careful about sharing any codes or prompts that could be used to authorize access.
Security professionals generally recommend that users treat authentication codes as confidential and avoid entering them into forms or sharing them in chats, even if the request appears to come from a familiar source. They also advise users to pay attention to changes in account behavior, such as unexpected prompts, new device registrations, or messages sent that the user did not write.
## Broader context for encrypted messaging services
The warning illustrates a broader challenge for encrypted messaging services: while encryption can protect message content from interception, it does not prevent attackers from targeting the people who use the service. Social engineering campaigns can be tailored to specific individuals, including government officials, journalists, activists, and business leaders.
Messaging services have increasingly highlighted user education and account-level safeguards as part of their security posture. These measures are intended to reduce the success rate of scams that rely on persuasion rather than software flaws.
Signal’s warning follows reports of hackers targeting officials, reinforcing that high-value targets remain a focus for attackers seeking access to communications. The company’s message to users was to remain vigilant, verify unusual requests, and avoid sharing security-related information in response to unsolicited prompts.
