TeleMessage is another messaging application that has been forked from the Signal platform, and is owned by Smarsh. Lately, though, it has come under fire amid warnings about a long-ago cybersecurity breach. Headquartered in Israel, TeleMessage offers companies the option to archive messages—including voice memos—sent through encrypted apps. In response, Smarsh has put all TeleMessage services on temporary suspension and is investigating.
The company announced its actions after detecting the security concern, stating that it has engaged an external cybersecurity firm to assist with the investigation. Smarsh reassured that despite the changes, all other products and services under its portfolio continue to function at 100 percent.
“Upon detection, we acted quickly to contain it and engaged an external cybersecurity firm to support our investigation,” – Smarsh
Coinbase, one of the largest cryptocurrency exchanges which uses TeleMessage for software provisioning, is watching this incident closely. In an email, a spokesperson for Coinbase said the company was still evaluating how the developments might affect its business. Significantly, they did stress that TeleMessage is not used by Coinbase to send highly sensitive data, like passwords and seed phrases.
The spokesperson added that at this time, there’s no indication any sensitive Coinbase customer information has been obtained. They wanted to dispel fears that any customer accounts may be compromised.
Coinbase hasn’t been the only one on this case. U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Signal and Scotiabank have not responded to requests for comments on the incident.
As news of this serious security incident continues to unfold, all stakeholders must be front and center on high alert. Smarsh’s quick response to the exploit is a testament to their dedication to keeping their services safe and secure. This alarming incident serves to remind us just how important cybersecurity has become in our increasingly digital lives. It’s particularly important for companies that handle sensitive user information.