The encrypted messaging app Signal is making headlines this week—not because of a flaw in its system but due to a major user error involving high-ranking U.S. officials.
Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth reportedly discussed military plans for an attack on the Yemeni Houthis in a private Signal group chat. However, a critical mistake led to journalist Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, being added to the chat by accident. He later published details of the discussions, revealing sensitive military information.
The issue wasn’t with Signal itself—the app functioned as designed. Instead, it was a clear lapse in security protocol that allowed a journalist access to classified conversations. If proper government procedures had been followed, this blunder could have been avoided.
Following The Atlantic’s report on Monday, downloads of Signal surged. According to app intelligence firm Appfigures, global downloads rose 28% above the daily average over the past month. In the U.S., downloads spiked 45%, while in Yemen, they jumped 42%. Before the controversy, Signal ranked No. 50 among social media apps in Yemen but skyrocketed to No. 9.
Signal, known for its end-to-end encryption, ensures that only chat participants can see their messages. Even the company itself cannot access user conversations. However, while it’s a secure platform for private communication, it was never meant to serve as a storage hub for classified military plans.
Although Hegseth downplayed the situation, stating that “no war plans” were shared, The Atlantic published messages showing discussions on attack timing, weaponry, and aircraft involved.
As of Thursday, the U.S. government is still investigating this major security breach.
