The White House is currently investigating a significant cybersecurity incident involving its chief of staff, Susie Wiles. One or more unknown individuals reportedly accessed the contacts from Wiles’ personal mobile phone recently. This breach of her personal device has raised serious security concerns within the current Trump administration. The attackers then used the stolen contact information to reach out to other top U.S. officials and influential individuals. These actions involved direct impersonation of Susie Wiles, creating confusion and potential for further malicious activity against high-level targets.
The hacker or hackers, after gaining access to Wiles’ phone contacts, initiated contact with several prominent individuals.
The Wall Street Journal reported that some of these contacts received phone calls where the perpetrators impersonated Wiles. These impersonations notably utilized artificial intelligence to convincingly mimic her voice, showcasing a sophisticated attack method. Additionally, deceptive text messages were sent from a phone number not actually associated with Wiles, further attempting to mislead recipients. This complex social engineering effort highlights the advanced capabilities of those involved in orchestrating this particular security breach against a top official.
In immediate response to these alarming events, the White House has stated that it “takes the cybersecurity of all staff very seriously.”
A White House spokesperson confirmed to CBS News that this serious matter continues to be actively investigated by relevant authorities. This is reportedly the second time that Susie Wiles has been specifically targeted by hackers seeking to compromise her information. In 2024, Iranian hackers unsuccessfully attempted to compromise Wiles’ personal email account, according to previous reports from The Washington Post. The Wall Street Journal, however, cited sources indicating that earlier hacking attempt on her email was actually successful, compromising a dossier.
This incident is the latest in a series of cybersecurity issues that have beset the Trump administration in recent months. Some recipients of the suspicious messages from Wiles’ compromised contacts realized they were suspicious due to the unknown originating number. The impersonator or impersonators also reportedly asked if conversations could be continued on other platforms like Telegram, raising further red flags. FBI Director Kash Patel affirmed the Bureau takes all threats against the President, his staff, and U.S. cybersecurity with utmost seriousness. Safeguarding officials’ ability to communicate securely remains a top priority for the current administration and its security agencies.
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