Summary
Jared Kushner's iPhone was allegedly hacked twice by Russian military intelligence, according to claims in a new book by investigative journalist Matthew Cole. The book, excerpted in Vanity Fair, details how Dutch intelligence reportedly gained access to Kushner's phone after discovering the initial breach by the GRU. In late 2017, Dutch spies learned that a Russian hacker was traveling to the UK and managed to turn him into a double agent, which led to them accessing a GRU server containing stolen information, including screenshots of Kushner's phone.
The implications of this breach are significant, especially considering Kushner's role as a senior advisor in the Trump administration. The Dutch intelligence allegedly monitored Kushner's phone activity, including a transaction involving hundreds of millions of dollars between banks in the UAE and Azerbaijan. Kushner's representatives have denied the allegations, calling them baseless and claiming there is no public evidence to support them. The situation raises concerns about the cybersecurity practices of high-ranking officials and the potential vulnerabilities of personal devices used for sensitive communications.
In related discussions, cybersecurity experts emphasize the growing risks posed by easy access to personal information through data brokers and social media. The conversation highlights the need for organizations to implement protective measures for their executives, including monitoring online presence and reducing digital exposure. As technology evolves, the threat landscape continues to shift, underscoring the importance of vigilance in both personal and professional spheres.
Show Notes
Dutch spies, Russian hackers and Jared Kushner’s iPhone. It sounds like the ingredients for a thriller, but according to claims in a new book the US President's son-in-law may have been hacked twice. Is any of it true, and what does it tell us about the phones in our pockets? Meanwhile, James Ball explains that of the internet’s most trusted security keys were protected by numbers so small that one of them was... four. Yes, "4". And then, of course, to make the week worse we suffered a PHPocalpyse... Plus, Chuck Randolph of 360 Privacy explains how the internet has made it scarily easy to put company executives and public officials in danger. All this and more in episode 490 of the “Smashing Security” podcast with cybersecurity expert and keynote speaker Graham Cluley, and special guest James Ball.
EPISODE LINKS: Signal bug could let someone keep listening after you hang up - Malwarebytes. Post by @safety.bsky.app - Bluesky. How a Massive Chinese Crime Ring Hacked Staples to Steal Millions - 404 Media. How The Intercept might have helped unmask Reality Winner to the NSA - Graham Cluley. The Art of the Deal: Jared Kushner’s Hacked Phone Revealed His Secret Negotiations- Including More Than $700 Million in Transfers - Vanity Fair. Kushner iPhone hack claims: Dutch spies accessed GRU-compromised device - Cybernews. Tweet by Kim Zetter - X (formerly Twitter). Meet the seven people who hold the keys to worldwide internet security - The Guardian. The Internet goes on high alert after discovery of 8 compromised TLS certs - Ars Technica. Indian certification authority eMudhra’s private keys compromised – one of them was the number ‘4’ - The Register. eMudhra to Exit global SSL/TLS Certificate Business - Emudhra. 'Doing a Ratner' and other famous gaffes - The Telegraph. Websites taken down worldwide as critical PHP cyber-security update issued - BBC News. PHP blames supply chain security biz Chainguard for putting huge chunks of the web at risk - The Register. 2023 Battagram cable car incident - Wikipedia. Hanging By A Wire. Watch Taskmaster- Channel 4. Smashing Security merchandise (t-shirts, mugs, stickers and stuff)
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THANKS: Theme tune: 'Vinyl Memories' by Mikael Manvelyan. Assorted sound effects: AudioBlocks.
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