Hegseth Set Up Pentagon Office to Access Signal Messages, Sources Reveal

The Pentagon installed an arrangement in Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's office allowing him to access messages from the encrypted messaging app Signal while working, according to sources close to the situation who spoke to CBS News. These individuals stated that this setup circumvents typical Defense Department security measures.
A computer monitor in Hegseth's office was installed to give him remote access to the Signal app and text messages from his personal cellphone, the sources said. Hegseth has used the system to check and respond to those messages at his desk, multiple sources said.
Earlier reports from The Associated Press indicated that Hegseth utilized an insecure internet connection referred to as a "dirty line" by IT and cybersecurity experts. This type of connection circumvents security measures designed to protect against potential exploits by malicious actors.
A representative from the Defense Department refuted the existence of a "compromised line" and also stated that Signal is not being used within Hegseth’s office at present. According to the spokesperson, there is a direct connection established between the computer screen in the defense secretary's workspace and their mobile device, positioned just beyond the door. This setup allows notifications on the screen indicating new messages, enabling them to leave the room for viewing these communications. The official mentioned that this configuration functions as a unidirectional link presently.
The office complex serves as a sensitive compartmented information facility, known as a SCIF, where mobile phones are not allowed.
Two sources familiar with the situation informed CBS News that this workaround poses a security hazard—it allows Hegseth to have access to both his personal iPhone texts and Signal chats from his workstation despite his phone not being physically present in the facility. They mentioned that his cell phone is not connected to the Defense Department’s Non-Secure Internet Protocol Router Network, commonly referred to as NIPR within military circles.
Hegseth, who is an Army veteran and a former Fox News presenter, encountered backlash earlier this week when reports emerged that he disclosed information regarding upcoming U.S. bombings in Yemen. private Signal group That he established, incorporating his spouse along with his sibling and personal legal counsel, all of whom hold roles at the Pentagon yet do not occupy posts requiring them to be privy to such classified data. This situation marked the second occurrence of this nature. Signal group chat where Hegseth shared the information.
An aide in Hegseth's office, Marine Col. Ricky Buria, helped organize the effort to fix some internet connectivity issues in Hegseth's office in the first days of the administration, two of the sources said. Buria had some oversight over the work to set up the Signal work-around, the sources said.
The Defense Department didn't respond to a request for comment on Buria's role.
Signal An end-to-end encrypted chat app offers a desktop application that links with a user’s smartphone via a specific QR code. After pairing, the desktop interface reflects the features of the mobile version, enabling users to compose and read messages, view their contact list, and handle shared files directly from their computer.
The sources talked to CBS News on the condition of remaining anonymous since they had not been permitted to communicate with the media.
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