Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina has reported that his phone is being investigated by the FBI for a possible hack. The incident occurred after someone attempted to hack Graham’s phone by impersonating Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. The phone is currently in the hands of the FBI for further investigation. Graham shared details of the incident during a tech event, noting that anything can be hacked if vulnerabilities are present.
The Senate Sergeant at Arms is also investigating the possible hack of Senator Graham’s phone, according to a statement from his spokesperson, Taylor Reidy. The FBI has not provided any official comments regarding the investigation. Reports have surfaced indicating similar hacking attempts on Senate staff this week. The phishing attacks involve impersonating a trusted source to trick the target into installing malicious software on their device.
The hacking incident involving Senator Graham’s personal phone is separate from any Senate devices or network, as confirmed by a source familiar with the matter. The motive behind the hacking attempt remains unclear, but it poses a serious risk to lawmakers and their staff. Cyber threats targeting government officials range from state-backed espionage to cybercrime. The primary concern with such hacking activity is the potential for gaining access to sensitive information for future operations.
Last year, hundreds of House and Senate staff members had their personal information, including Social Security numbers, stolen in a separate hack of a Washington, DC health insurance service. This underscores the continued threat of cyber attacks on government entities. The investigation into the hacking attempt on Senator Graham’s phone continues, with additional security measures likely to be implemented to protect against future cyber threats. Additional reporting on this story will be forthcoming as new information emerges.
