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Cyber Risks · Krebs on Security

Senator Chides FBI for Weak Advice on Mobile Security

Summary: Sen. Ron Wyden sent a letter to FBI Director Kash Patel arguing that the mobile-security briefing FBI agents gave to more than 140 Senate staffers in mid-June was limited to remedial tips like avoiding suspicious links and public wifi, turning off Bluetooth, and rebooting regularly. Wyden said that advice is insufficient against well-funded foreign intelligence agencies and zero-click spyware sold by cyber mercenary companies, and urged the FBI to recommend built-in defenses such as Apple's Lockdown Mode and Google's Advanced Protection Mode, along with ad blockers, disabling ad tracking IDs, and opting out of data brokers.

What's compelling: The briefing followed a campaign impersonating White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles using a contacts list stolen from her personal phone, and it was punctuated by the murder of Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband and the shooting of State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife. Researcher Nicholas Weaver said Lockdown Mode and Advanced Protection should be the default for all members of Congress and their staff, because lawmakers are at exceptional risk and need to be exceptionally protected.

Read the original at Krebs on Security ↗

Topics
Data Breaches
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