Pentagon Probes Dialog Data Breach Exposing National Security Officials
▼ Summary
– A data exposure at Dialog, cofounded by Peter Thiel, leaked personal information of US national security personnel, including an NSC intelligence official and an active-duty intelligence officer.
– The Pentagon is investigating the exposure, which included details like home addresses, phone numbers, and login tokens from 222 event registrants.
– The White House asked WIRED not to name the NSC official due to national security concerns, but otherwise declined comment.
– Dialog called it a “cyberattack,” but WIRED found a misconfigured website allowed anyone to access the files by creating an account and loading the app’s landing page.
– The data exposure adds operational risks for active-duty officers, as foreign intelligence services use such information to identify and surveil US operatives.
A data breach at Dialog, the exclusive private events organization co-founded by billionaire Peter Thiel, has exposed sensitive personal information of multiple U.S. national security officials, including an intelligence adviser on the National Security Council (NSC) and an active-duty intelligence officer supporting a top-tier special operations unit. The Pentagon has confirmed it is now investigating the incident.
For foreign intelligence agencies, personal data on U. S. intelligence and military personnel is among the most valuable assets. Such information can be used to identify, track, and target operatives both overseas and domestically, introducing significant operational risks for active-duty officers and the units they serve.
The White House asked WIRED to withhold the name of the NSC official for national security reasons but otherwise declined to comment on the breach.
Evidence indicates the exposure was caused by a misconfigured website rather than a sophisticated cyberattack. The compromised records included private details and login tokens for 222 Dialog event registrants, among them current and former senior military and national security figures from the U. S. and allied nations.
The exposed NSC official advises President Donald Trump and the national security adviser on sensitive intelligence programs. The other individual is described in the records as an active-duty intelligence officer embedded with a “Tier 1” special operations unit. Neither had prior involvement with Dialog; both were invited and registered for the group’s retreat scheduled for this August near Dublin, Ireland.
Internally, Dialog has characterized the incident as a “cyberattack.” However, WIRED discovered that the files were accessible because anyone could create an account with a simple email address, log in, and view the data by loading the group’s app landing page. The discovery originated from a tip received by maia arson crimew, a Swiss DJ and cybersecurity researcher. It remains unclear how long the records were exposed or who else may have accessed them.
Crimew was indicted in 2021 on hacking-related charges but has not been arrested or convicted. In 2023, she uncovered a copy of the U. S. government’s No Fly List on an unsecured server and shared it with journalists.
Outside legal counsel for Dialog sent a letter over the weekend claiming the data was “stolen” and demanding WIRED return its copy. WIRED declined. Dialog did not respond to questions.
The file on the NSC intelligence official, a former CIA officer, contains over two dozen personal details and survey responses, mirroring Dialog’s dossiers on tech founders, actors, journalists, and hedge fund managers. Alongside what appear to be their date of birth, home address, mobile number, headshot, and private authentication token, the file also notes their political leanings and how they entered the invitation-only network.
The questionnaire responses include a personal prediction: “future espionage will target your behavior more than your secrets.” A book recommendation appears as Allen Drury’s Cold War novel Advise and Consent, alongside other private biographical details.
The military intelligence officer’s dossier follows the same template, exposing the same range of personally identifiable information. The file shows they were nominated to join Dialog by another military officer assigned to a major command headquarters.
WIRED is withholding the names of both officials and the specific unit of the military intelligence officer to protect their safety and operational security. The Pentagon told WIRED on Tuesday that its operations security team is actively reviewing the matter.
(Source: Wired)
