That Old Phone Trump Uses for Twitter Could Be an Opening to Security Threats
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Doug Mills/The New York Times
President Trump has carried his Twitter behavior into his presidency. He has additionally introduced with him one other tech behavior that’s inflicting concern.
Mr. Trump has been using his previous, unsecured Android cellphone to submit on Twitter since shifting to Washington late final week.
The president’s use of an unsecured private machine raises considerations that his want to make use of his previous smartphone could possibly be exposing him and the nation to safety threats.
He is utilizing the Android smartphone primarily to submit on Twitter, to not make calls. But it’s unclear what safety measures have been put in place on the machine and the way susceptible he could possibly be to somebody stealing information or breaking into his Twitter account.
The White House didn’t reply to a request for remark.
Twitter requires a connection to the web, which exposes the machine to safety vulnerabilities if correct measures like two-factor authentication — a password and a code texted to a cellphone, for instance — are usually not in place. If he makes use of the smartphone on an unsecure Wi-Fi community, he could possibly be exposing his location and different private info on the machine.
“The completely minimal Trump might do to guard our nation is to make use of a safe machine to guard him from international spies and different threats,” mentioned Senator Ron Wyden, a Democrat from Oregon on the Intelligence Committee. “It can be irresponsible within the excessive for the commander in chief to make use of an unsecure machine that could possibly be simply hacked or intercepted.”
Among the considerations by safety specialists:
■ It is unclear if the machine and its capabilities like texting are encrypted to thwart hacking.
■ The machine could possibly be extra susceptible to hacking if used on unsecured Wi-Fi and mobile networks, comparable to when Mr. Trump travels between conferences or wherever outdoors the White House.
■ Hackers might entry the machine to activate the digicam and microphone.
■ Stingray gadgets, a sort of surveillance instrument typically utilized by legislation enforcement, can monitor a tool’s location and different info.
“There are plenty of questions, however it’s clear there are sometimes vulnerabilities in our telephones and web techniques — and it’s important that folks take precautions to make sure their delicate info is protected against hackers and different malicious actors,” mentioned Neema Singh Guliani, legislative counsel with the American Civil Liberties Union.
The president’s use of the private machine is especially notable given his criticism of Hillary Clinton for utilizing a private e mail tackle and server when she was secretary of state.
In 2009, President Barack Obama fought to turn into the primary president with a smartphone; although he received, the use of a White House-issued safe machine got here with many guidelines.
“As president, he’s the largest sitting goal on the planet,” mentioned Kevin Bankston, the director of New America’s Open Technology Institute.
