FBI Director Kash Patel revealed that hackers linked to Russian intelligence are targeting the messaging accounts of high-profile U.S. individuals, including current and former government officials, military personnel, political figures, and journalists. The FBI has identified these cyber actors, who have gained unauthorized access to thousands of accounts globally, allowing them to view private messages, send impersonating messages, and conduct phishing attempts. The campaign specifically targets users of commercial messaging applications like Signal, which has been blocked in Russia due to alleged legal violations. Dutch intelligence agencies reported that Russian hackers are also engaged in a global cyber campaign against WhatsApp and Signal accounts, using phishing tactics to access sensitive information. Signal acknowledged recent targeted phishing attacks leading to account takeovers. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, its cyber operations have increasingly focused on disruptive tactics against Western allies.