FBI encourages you to use encrypted chat apps, even if it doesn’t like it

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Credit: Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority

• In response to the Salt Typhoon hack, two high-ranking FBI officials have said Americans should be using encrypted chat apps.
• Previously, the FBI has tried to get keys to access encrypted chats during investigations.
• The bureau’s stance on encryption has changed in recent years, but it’s still interesting to hear it encourages people to use encryption while simultaneously wanting to break it whenever it deems that necessary.

In October, United States government officials discovered a massive breach of telecommunications equipment owned by Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T, and others. Officials pointed to the hacking group Microsoft has nicknamed “Salt Typhoon” as the team responsible. Given that Salt Typhoon has alleged ties to the Chinese government, the breach was seen as a significant problem. Even now, government agencies are unsure of when — or even if — the situation will be totally remediated.

Yesterday, US officials conducted a news call that touched on the hack (via NBC News). On the call, two Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents — a senior official who asked not to be named and Jeff Greene, executive assistant director for cybersecurity at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) — said that Americans should be using encrypted chat apps precisely because of targeted attacks such as this one.




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