Sean Lyngaas
@snlyngaas.bsky.social
Cybersecurity reporter, CNN. Signal +1-202-355-8471 or SNLyng.11. sean[dot]lyngaas@cnn[dot]com|slyngaas@proton[dot]me
Pinned
Sean Lyngaas
@snlyngaas.bsky.social
· Oct 29
CIA cyberattacks targeting the Maduro regime didn’t satisfy Trump in his first term. Now the US is flexing its military might | CNN Politics
In the final year of President Donald Trump’s first administration, the CIA carried out a clandestine cyberattack against the Venezuelan government, disabling the computer network used by Venezuelan l...
www.cnn.com
The CIA hacked and disrupted a computer network used by Venezuela’s security service in Trump’s 1st term, one of a series of covert actions US agencies took or considered taking as Trump increased pressure on Maduro: www.cnn.com/2025/10/29/p...
Reposted by Sean Lyngaas
James Luckey-Lange spent just over a month detained in Venezuela. He shared his story with @snlyngaas.bsky.social & me - including how he smuggled out a bar of soap with names of other inmates carved in it, in the hopes of finding their families
www.cnn.com/2026/02/14/p...
www.cnn.com/2026/02/14/p...
‘I thought they were just going to execute me’: American held in Venezuela during Maduro’s last days tells all | CNN Politics
James Luckey-Lange has been spending a lot of time looking at the names he carved on a bar of soap he smuggled out of a Venezuelan prison in his underwear.
www.cnn.com
February 14, 2026 at 3:36 PM
James Luckey-Lange spent just over a month detained in Venezuela. He shared his story with @snlyngaas.bsky.social & me - including how he smuggled out a bar of soap with names of other inmates carved in it, in the hopes of finding their families
www.cnn.com/2026/02/14/p...
www.cnn.com/2026/02/14/p...
New —> ‘I thought they were just going to execute me’: American held in Venezuela during Maduro’s last days tells all www.cnn.com/2026/02/14/p...
‘I thought they were just going to execute me’: American held in Venezuela during Maduro’s last days tells all | CNN Politics
James Luckey-Lange has been spending a lot of time looking at the names he carved on a bar of soap he smuggled out of a Venezuelan prison in his underwear.
www.cnn.com
February 14, 2026 at 2:20 PM
New —> ‘I thought they were just going to execute me’: American held in Venezuela during Maduro’s last days tells all www.cnn.com/2026/02/14/p...
Russian drone strike kills three Ukrainian toddlers and their father, injures their pregnant mother: www.cnn.com/2026/02/11/e...
Russian drone strike kills three Ukrainian toddlers and their father | CNN
Three toddlers and their father were killed in a Russian drone strike in eastern Ukraine that also injured their pregnant mother, local emergency services said.
www.cnn.com
February 11, 2026 at 3:07 PM
Russian drone strike kills three Ukrainian toddlers and their father, injures their pregnant mother: www.cnn.com/2026/02/11/e...
Russian drone strike kills three Ukrainian toddlers and their father, injures their pregnant mother: www.cnn.com/2026/02/11/e...
Russian drone strike kills three Ukrainian toddlers and their father | CNN
Three toddlers and their father were killed in a Russian drone strike in eastern Ukraine that also injured their pregnant mother, local emergency services said.
www.cnn.com
February 11, 2026 at 2:41 PM
Russian drone strike kills three Ukrainian toddlers and their father, injures their pregnant mother: www.cnn.com/2026/02/11/e...
"The recent Senate intelligence committee hearing showed Republicans urging the Trump administration to take a stance" on Section 702: www.cnn.com/2026/02/09/p...
February 10, 2026 at 5:05 PM
"The recent Senate intelligence committee hearing showed Republicans urging the Trump administration to take a stance" on Section 702: www.cnn.com/2026/02/09/p...
There was bipartisan frustration last week at a Senate intel hearing as reps from FBI, NSA, and ODNI would not say whether they endorsed the renewal of a crucial national security tool www.cnn.com/2026/02/09/p...
Classified hearing erupted in frustration as officials refused to say whether Trump wants to renew powerful surveillance law | CNN Politics
For two hours inside a classified Congressional hearing last week, Republican and Democrat Senators grew increasingly exasperated as officials from the FBI, the National Security Agency and other agen...
www.cnn.com
February 9, 2026 at 9:50 PM
There was bipartisan frustration last week at a Senate intel hearing as reps from FBI, NSA, and ODNI would not say whether they endorsed the renewal of a crucial national security tool www.cnn.com/2026/02/09/p...
Election officials' growing suspicion of Trump admin's motives has triggered concerns among some federal officials that distrust of even routine FBI moves could hinder cooperation with states & give an opening for foreign adversaries: www.cnn.com/2026/02/06/p...
February 6, 2026 at 8:08 PM
Election officials' growing suspicion of Trump admin's motives has triggered concerns among some federal officials that distrust of even routine FBI moves could hinder cooperation with states & give an opening for foreign adversaries: www.cnn.com/2026/02/06/p...
Intelligence director Tulsi Gabbard’s office obtained and tested voting machines in Puerto Rico www.cnn.com/2026/02/04/p...
Intelligence director Tulsi Gabbard’s office obtained and tested voting machines in Puerto Rico | CNN Politics
The Office of Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard obtained voting machines from Puerto Rico and probed them for security vulnerabilities, the office said in a statement to CNN on Wednesday...
www.cnn.com
February 5, 2026 at 4:41 PM
Intelligence director Tulsi Gabbard’s office obtained and tested voting machines in Puerto Rico www.cnn.com/2026/02/04/p...
A fact-check: "What does Tulsi Gabbard’s job as director of national intelligence have to do with elections?"
www.cnn.com/2026/02/05/p...
www.cnn.com/2026/02/05/p...
What does Tulsi Gabbard’s job as director of national intelligence have to do with elections? | CNN Politics
After intense criticism from some election officials after Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was present during an FBI search of an elections office in Georgia last week, Gabbard defende...
www.cnn.com
February 5, 2026 at 3:38 PM
A fact-check: "What does Tulsi Gabbard’s job as director of national intelligence have to do with elections?"
www.cnn.com/2026/02/05/p...
www.cnn.com/2026/02/05/p...
Reposted by Sean Lyngaas
Most of the Washington Post’s tech reporters were laid off today, including me. I have loved my time at the paper, which is where I wanted to work from age 15. I take some consolation in not being among the survivors who will have to work harder with less for fewer readers. On to better things.
February 4, 2026 at 4:47 PM
Most of the Washington Post’s tech reporters were laid off today, including me. I have loved my time at the paper, which is where I wanted to work from age 15. I take some consolation in not being among the survivors who will have to work harder with less for fewer readers. On to better things.
Reposted by Sean Lyngaas
Federal immigration agents are using facial recognition technology that draws from US government biometric databases containing over 1.2 billion face images www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
DHS Face-Scanning App Pulls From 1.2 Billion‑Image Database
Federal immigration agents are using facial recognition technology that draws from US government biometric databases containing more than 1.2 billion face images, according to federal records reviewed...
www.bloomberg.com
February 3, 2026 at 2:00 PM
Federal immigration agents are using facial recognition technology that draws from US government biometric databases containing over 1.2 billion face images www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Reposted by Sean Lyngaas
ICYMI: Yesterday we published the results of a survey of 100+ security researchers and journalists asking about the legal and criminal threats they face for doing their jobs.
A very interesting takeaway: While legal & criminal threats are common, most of our respondents *did not* give in to them.
A very interesting takeaway: While legal & criminal threats are common, most of our respondents *did not* give in to them.
New survey reveals how security researchers and journalists experience legal and criminal threats
Over 100 security researchers and journalists answered our survey and told us how they experienced threats for doing their work. Here are some of the top takeaways.
this.weekinsecurity.com
February 3, 2026 at 1:46 PM
ICYMI: Yesterday we published the results of a survey of 100+ security researchers and journalists asking about the legal and criminal threats they face for doing their jobs.
A very interesting takeaway: While legal & criminal threats are common, most of our respondents *did not* give in to them.
A very interesting takeaway: While legal & criminal threats are common, most of our respondents *did not* give in to them.
Former senior FBI officials said they could think of “no precedent for the top US intelligence official interacting directly with FBI agents on a politically charged case like this.” www.cnn.com/2026/02/02/p...
DNI Gabbard put Trump on the phone with FBI agents who searched Fulton County elections office, sources say | CNN Politics
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard put President Donald Trump on the phone with some of the FBI agents who conducted a controversial search of an elections office in Fulton County, Georgi...
www.cnn.com
February 3, 2026 at 12:47 PM
Former senior FBI officials said they could think of “no precedent for the top US intelligence official interacting directly with FBI agents on a politically charged case like this.” www.cnn.com/2026/02/02/p...
In a new letter to lawmakers, DNI Gabbard confirms her presence in Fulton County was “requested by the President” www.cnn.com/2026/02/02/p...
DNI Gabbard put Trump on the phone with FBI agents who searched Fulton County elections office, sources say | CNN Politics
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard put President Donald Trump on the phone with some of the FBI agents who conducted a controversial search of an elections office in Fulton County, Georgi...
www.cnn.com
February 3, 2026 at 1:51 AM
In a new letter to lawmakers, DNI Gabbard confirms her presence in Fulton County was “requested by the President” www.cnn.com/2026/02/02/p...
“Anticipation had built throughout the day Friday among election officials of both parties that someone from the Trump administration would explain what the administration was doing in Fulton County. No explanation came.” www.cnn.com/2026/01/31/p...
Tulsi Gabbard inserts herself into 2020 election fraud probe | CNN Politics
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has taken the extraordinary step of inserting herself into a federal probe of the 2020 election as she hunts for elusive evidence of voter fraud.
www.cnn.com
February 2, 2026 at 3:28 PM
“Anticipation had built throughout the day Friday among election officials of both parties that someone from the Trump administration would explain what the administration was doing in Fulton County. No explanation came.” www.cnn.com/2026/01/31/p...
Reposted by Sean Lyngaas
New —> On the eve of 2024 election, US Cyber Command hacked & degraded Russian companies spewing anti-Ukraine propaganda at US voters. Multiple US cyber ops against Russia, Iran then. But other USG agencies to counter foreign influence on elections have since been gutted www.cnn.com/2026/01/28/p...
Secret US cyber operations shielded 2024 election from foreign trolls, but now the Trump admin has gutted protections | CNN Politics
Weeks before the 2024 election, American military hackers carried out a secret operation to disrupt the work of Russian trolls spewing false information at US voters.
www.cnn.com
January 28, 2026 at 1:01 PM
New —> On the eve of 2024 election, US Cyber Command hacked & degraded Russian companies spewing anti-Ukraine propaganda at US voters. Multiple US cyber ops against Russia, Iran then. But other USG agencies to counter foreign influence on elections have since been gutted www.cnn.com/2026/01/28/p...
New —> On the eve of 2024 election, US Cyber Command hacked & degraded Russian companies spewing anti-Ukraine propaganda at US voters. Multiple US cyber ops against Russia, Iran then. But other USG agencies to counter foreign influence on elections have since been gutted www.cnn.com/2026/01/28/p...
Secret US cyber operations shielded 2024 election from foreign trolls, but now the Trump admin has gutted protections | CNN Politics
Weeks before the 2024 election, American military hackers carried out a secret operation to disrupt the work of Russian trolls spewing false information at US voters.
www.cnn.com
January 28, 2026 at 1:01 PM
New —> On the eve of 2024 election, US Cyber Command hacked & degraded Russian companies spewing anti-Ukraine propaganda at US voters. Multiple US cyber ops against Russia, Iran then. But other USG agencies to counter foreign influence on elections have since been gutted www.cnn.com/2026/01/28/p...
The US has deported about a dozen Iranians in the first known deportation flight since Tehran's large-scale, violent crackdown on protesters: www.cnn.com/2026/01/26/p...
Trump admin deports Iranians for first time since brutal crackdown on protests | CNN Politics
The Trump administration sent about a dozen Iranians back on a deportation flight Sunday, a source familiar with the matter told CNN.
www.cnn.com
January 27, 2026 at 12:21 PM
The US has deported about a dozen Iranians in the first known deportation flight since Tehran's large-scale, violent crackdown on protesters: www.cnn.com/2026/01/26/p...
CIA moves to establish permanent presence in Venezuela, my colleagues report. “State plants the flag but CIA is really the influence."https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/27/politics/cia-venezuela-foothold
January 27, 2026 at 12:10 PM
CIA moves to establish permanent presence in Venezuela, my colleagues report. “State plants the flag but CIA is really the influence."https://www.cnn.com/2026/01/27/politics/cia-venezuela-foothold
From the Pentagon’s new National Defense Strategy: “The Department will prioritize bolstering cyber defenses for U.S. military and certain civilian targets. DoW will also develop other options to deter or degrade cyber threats to the U.S. Homeland.” media.defense.gov/2026/Jan/23/...
media.defense.gov
January 24, 2026 at 3:09 AM
From the Pentagon’s new National Defense Strategy: “The Department will prioritize bolstering cyber defenses for U.S. military and certain civilian targets. DoW will also develop other options to deter or degrade cyber threats to the U.S. Homeland.” media.defense.gov/2026/Jan/23/...
Reposted by Sean Lyngaas
Iran's shutdown is now 15 days and counting. Small amounts of service have been restored in recent days.
#DigitalBlackoutIran #IranRevoIution2026
State telecom TIC (A49666) re-established many of its lost connections with outside providers, such as GBI (AS200612) at 22:02 UTC on Jan-22.
#DigitalBlackoutIran #IranRevoIution2026
State telecom TIC (A49666) re-established many of its lost connections with outside providers, such as GBI (AS200612) at 22:02 UTC on Jan-22.
January 23, 2026 at 4:48 PM
Iran's shutdown is now 15 days and counting. Small amounts of service have been restored in recent days.
#DigitalBlackoutIran #IranRevoIution2026
State telecom TIC (A49666) re-established many of its lost connections with outside providers, such as GBI (AS200612) at 22:02 UTC on Jan-22.
#DigitalBlackoutIran #IranRevoIution2026
State telecom TIC (A49666) re-established many of its lost connections with outside providers, such as GBI (AS200612) at 22:02 UTC on Jan-22.
GRU's Sandworm trying to do in Poland what they've done in Ukraine
Exclusive: A cyberattack targeting Poland's energy infrastructure in December used wiper malware that would have erased grid computers and rendered them inoperable had it not been thwarted, a researcher at @ESET told me. The researcher calls the attack "unprecedented" for Poland and "substantial"
Cyberattack Targeting Poland’s Energy Grid Used a Wiper
A cyberattack that targeted power plants and other energy producers in Poland at the end of December used malware known as a “wiper” that was intended to erase computers and cause a power outage and o...
www.zetter-zeroday.com
January 23, 2026 at 5:45 PM
GRU's Sandworm trying to do in Poland what they've done in Ukraine
A review of dozens of videos shows how ICE agents are using facial recognition software in the field, including the Mobile Fortify app: www.cnn.com/2026/01/21/u...
ICE shunned body cams in Minnesota. So why are they using phones? | CNN
Federal immigration agents are using phone cameras for facial recognition software, to document their actions and to produce social media videos.
www.cnn.com
January 21, 2026 at 4:17 PM
A review of dozens of videos shows how ICE agents are using facial recognition software in the field, including the Mobile Fortify app: www.cnn.com/2026/01/21/u...
Reposted by Sean Lyngaas
Sources: US officials are telling multiple agencies, including FBI, to pull pple from attending the RSA conference after Jen Easterly, who led CISA under Biden, was named RSAC CEO: www.cnn.com/politics/liv...
Live updates: Trump keeping Machado’s Nobel prize after Venezuelan opposition leader presents it to him | CNN Politics
Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize winner, met with President Donald Trump today. Follow for live updates.
www.cnn.com
January 16, 2026 at 3:29 AM
Sources: US officials are telling multiple agencies, including FBI, to pull pple from attending the RSA conference after Jen Easterly, who led CISA under Biden, was named RSAC CEO: www.cnn.com/politics/liv...
Sources: US officials are telling multiple agencies, including FBI, to pull pple from attending the RSA conference after Jen Easterly, who led CISA under Biden, was named RSAC CEO: www.cnn.com/politics/liv...
Live updates: Trump keeping Machado’s Nobel prize after Venezuelan opposition leader presents it to him | CNN Politics
Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize winner, met with President Donald Trump today. Follow for live updates.
www.cnn.com
January 16, 2026 at 3:29 AM
Sources: US officials are telling multiple agencies, including FBI, to pull pple from attending the RSA conference after Jen Easterly, who led CISA under Biden, was named RSAC CEO: www.cnn.com/politics/liv...