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
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
NEWS: The UK is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes the attacks are illegal, sources familiar with the matter told CNN. edition.cnn.com/2025/11/11/p...
Exclusive: UK suspends some intelligence sharing with US over boat strike concerns in major break | CNN Politics
The United Kingdom is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes ...
edition.cnn.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:06 PM
NEWS: The UK is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes the attacks are illegal, sources familiar with the matter told CNN. edition.cnn.com/2025/11/11/p...
Important reporting from colleagues Brianna Keilar, @halbritz.bsky.social, @ikhurshudyan.bsky.social: A Navy officer who was set to become the 1st woman in a Naval Special Warfare command overseeing Navy SEALs had her appointment abruptly canceled w/ little explanation. www.cnn.com/2025/11/11/p...
Exclusive: ‘She was the best man for the job’: Hegseth’s policies are forcing qualified women out of the military | CNN Politics
Active service women and men who spoke to CNN say that goals Hegseth laid out often don’t make sense and will damage the military.
www.cnn.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Important reporting from colleagues Brianna Keilar, @halbritz.bsky.social, @ikhurshudyan.bsky.social: A Navy officer who was set to become the 1st woman in a Naval Special Warfare command overseeing Navy SEALs had her appointment abruptly canceled w/ little explanation. www.cnn.com/2025/11/11/p...
"In dozens of interviews in villages on Venezuela’s breathtaking northeastern coast, from which some of the boats departed, residents and relatives said the dead men had indeed been running drugs but were not narco-terrorists or leaders of a cartel or gang." apnews.com/article/trum...
Trump has accused boat crews of being narco-terrorists. The truth, AP found, is more nuanced
One was a fisherman struggling to eke out a living on $100 a month. Another was a career criminal. A third was a former military cadet.
apnews.com
November 7, 2025 at 4:26 PM
"In dozens of interviews in villages on Venezuela’s breathtaking northeastern coast, from which some of the boats departed, residents and relatives said the dead men had indeed been running drugs but were not narco-terrorists or leaders of a cartel or gang." apnews.com/article/trum...
Reposted by Sean Lyngaas
Chinese state-backed hackers suspected in breach of Congressional Budget Office: www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/p...
Congressional Budget Office hacked, China suspected in breach | CNN Politics
The Congressional Budget Office has been hacked, potentially exposing its communications with the offices of lawmakers, according to an email sent to congressional staff this week and obtained by CNN.
www.cnn.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:14 AM
Chinese state-backed hackers suspected in breach of Congressional Budget Office: www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/p...
Chinese state-backed hackers suspected in breach of Congressional Budget Office: www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/p...
Congressional Budget Office hacked, China suspected in breach | CNN Politics
The Congressional Budget Office has been hacked, potentially exposing its communications with the offices of lawmakers, according to an email sent to congressional staff this week and obtained by CNN.
www.cnn.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:14 AM
Chinese state-backed hackers suspected in breach of Congressional Budget Office: www.cnn.com/2025/11/06/p...
Two men who previously worked for ransomware-recovery firms have been indicted in Florida and accused of using the ALPHV/Black Cat ransomware to hack multiple US firms, and then trying to extort them for millions: www.cnn.com/2025/11/03/p...
Two men accused of hacking and extorting US companies previously worked for cybersecurity firms | CNN Politics
Two former employees of cybersecurity firms that sold services helping companies combat hackers have been indicted and accused of participating in a conspiracy, outside of their day jobs, to hack mult...
www.cnn.com
November 3, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Two men who previously worked for ransomware-recovery firms have been indicted in Florida and accused of using the ALPHV/Black Cat ransomware to hack multiple US firms, and then trying to extort them for millions: www.cnn.com/2025/11/03/p...
Good reporting from @timstarks.bsky.social on recipients of a prestigious cybersecurity scholarship feeling left high and dry (and in a lot of debt) because of government cuts: cyberscoop.com/cyber-schola...
Cyber scholarship-for-service students say government has pulled rug on them, potentially burdening them with debt
Some CyberCorps: Scholarship for Service participants have had federal agency job and internship offers rescinded this year due to cutbacks and freezes. It’s a condition of their scholarship contract ...
cyberscoop.com
November 3, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Good reporting from @timstarks.bsky.social on recipients of a prestigious cybersecurity scholarship feeling left high and dry (and in a lot of debt) because of government cuts: cyberscoop.com/cyber-schola...
Justice Department tells Congress Trump doesn’t need its approval for military strikes on alleged drug boats www.cnn.com/2025/11/02/p...
Justice Department tells Congress Trump doesn’t need its approval for military strikes on alleged drug boats | CNN Politics
A senior Justice Department official has told Congress that the Trump administration can continue lethal military strikes on alleged drug traffickers without congressional approval and that the admini...
www.cnn.com
November 2, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Justice Department tells Congress Trump doesn’t need its approval for military strikes on alleged drug boats www.cnn.com/2025/11/02/p...
Reposted by Sean Lyngaas
In an unprecedented situation, tens of millions of Americans could lose access to a crucial food assistance program starting on Saturday amid the federal government shutdown.
Millions of Americans could lose access to SNAP food assistance this weekend. Here’s who could be most affected | CNN Politics
In an unprecedented situation, tens of millions of Americans could lose access to a crucial food assistance program starting on Saturday amid the federal government shutdown.
www.cnn.com
October 31, 2025 at 6:30 PM
In an unprecedented situation, tens of millions of Americans could lose access to a crucial food assistance program starting on Saturday amid the federal government shutdown.
Reposted by Sean Lyngaas
Inside the Trump team's debates on what to do with Venezuela during his first term, and what that could mean for the military buildup going on right now - from @cnn.com 's Katie Bo Lillis, Sean Lyngaas and Kylie Atwood
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
October 29, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Inside the Trump team's debates on what to do with Venezuela during his first term, and what that could mean for the military buildup going on right now - from @cnn.com 's Katie Bo Lillis, Sean Lyngaas and Kylie Atwood
Reposted by Sean Lyngaas
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...
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
October 29, 2025 at 2:48 PM
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...
Former US defense contractor employee pleads guilty to selling hacking tools to buyer in Russia www.cnn.com/2025/10/29/p...
Former US defense contractor employee pleads guilty to selling hacking tools to buyer in Russia | CNN Politics
An Australian man on Wednesday pleaded guilty in connection with a scheme to steal powerful hacking tools from a US defense contractor and sell them to a buyer in Russia, the Justice Department said.
www.cnn.com
October 30, 2025 at 1:18 PM
Former US defense contractor employee pleads guilty to selling hacking tools to buyer in Russia www.cnn.com/2025/10/29/p...
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...
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
October 29, 2025 at 2:48 PM
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...
2020 election deniers and allies amass power, in and out of the Trump administration www.cnn.com/2025/10/24/p...
2020 election deniers and allies amass power, in and out of the Trump administration | CNN Politics
Nearly five years after the 2020 election, the debunked conspiracy that Trump was robbed of the election due to massive voter fraud has become gospel in many corners of the Republican Party. Back in p...
www.cnn.com
October 24, 2025 at 5:54 PM
2020 election deniers and allies amass power, in and out of the Trump administration www.cnn.com/2025/10/24/p...
Reposted by Sean Lyngaas
One time I had to email you three different times because I kept misspelling your last name. We had known each other for years at this point.
October 24, 2025 at 5:05 PM
One time I had to email you three different times because I kept misspelling your last name. We had known each other for years at this point.
Reposted by Sean Lyngaas
NBC needs a slow, minor-key variation of “Roundball Rock” to put underneath these gambling stories
October 23, 2025 at 5:23 PM
NBC needs a slow, minor-key variation of “Roundball Rock” to put underneath these gambling stories
Trump pardons convicted Binance founder CZ: www.wsj.com/finance/curr...
Exclusive | Trump Pardons Convicted Binance Founder
The pardon follows months of efforts by Changpeng Zhao to boost Trump crypto company
www.wsj.com
October 23, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Trump pardons convicted Binance founder CZ: www.wsj.com/finance/curr...
Russian strikes plunge parts of Kyiv into darkness and kill a 7-year-old boy in Zaporizhzhia, according to Ukrainian officials: www.cnn.com/2025/10/09/e...
Ukraine says ‘massive’ Russian attack targeted energy infrastructure | CNN
Russia carried out a “massive attack” on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, top Ukrainian officials said early Friday, leaving parts of the capital Kyiv without power.
www.cnn.com
October 10, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Russian strikes plunge parts of Kyiv into darkness and kill a 7-year-old boy in Zaporizhzhia, according to Ukrainian officials: www.cnn.com/2025/10/09/e...
Prominent American law firms continue to be breached by suspected Chinese intelligence operatives: www.cnn.com/2025/10/08/p...
US law firm with major political clients hacked in spying spree linked to China | CNN Politics
Suspected Chinese government-backed hackers have breached computer systems of US law firm Williams & Connolly, which has represented some of America’s most powerful politicians, as part of a larger sp...
www.cnn.com
October 8, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Prominent American law firms continue to be breached by suspected Chinese intelligence operatives: www.cnn.com/2025/10/08/p...
Important story from @natashabertrand.bsky.social & @zcohencnn.bsky.social, a reminder of the power of the OLC. www.cnn.com/2025/10/06/p...
Exclusive: Classified Justice Department opinion authorizes strikes on secret list of cartels, sources say | CNN Politics
The Trump administration has produced a classified legal opinion that justifies lethal strikes against a secret and expansive list of cartels and suspected drug traffickers, according to multiple peop...
www.cnn.com
October 7, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Important story from @natashabertrand.bsky.social & @zcohencnn.bsky.social, a reminder of the power of the OLC. www.cnn.com/2025/10/06/p...
Suspected Chinese state actors used ChatGPT to help write proposals to conduct mass-surveillance of Uyghurs and to scan social media for taboo content, OpenAI finds www.cnn.com/2025/10/07/p...
Suspected Chinese government operatives used ChatGPT to shape mass surveillance proposals, OpenAI says | CNN Politics
Suspected Chinese government operatives asked ChatGPT to help write proposal for a tool to conduct large-scale surveillance and to help promote another that allegedly scans social media accounts for “...
www.cnn.com
October 7, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Suspected Chinese state actors used ChatGPT to help write proposals to conduct mass-surveillance of Uyghurs and to scan social media for taboo content, OpenAI finds www.cnn.com/2025/10/07/p...
Reposted by Sean Lyngaas
New: DOJ has produced a classified legal opinion that justifies lethal strikes against a secret and expansive list of cartels and suspected drug traffickers—justifying an open-ended war against suspected smugglers, now considered by the US to be enemy combatants. www.cnn.com/2025/10/06/p...
Exclusive: Classified Justice Department opinion authorizes strikes on secret list of cartels, sources say | CNN Politics
The Trump administration has produced a classified legal opinion that justifies lethal strikes against a secret and expansive list of cartels and suspected drug traffickers, according to multiple peop...
www.cnn.com
October 6, 2025 at 9:35 PM
New: DOJ has produced a classified legal opinion that justifies lethal strikes against a secret and expansive list of cartels and suspected drug traffickers—justifying an open-ended war against suspected smugglers, now considered by the US to be enemy combatants. www.cnn.com/2025/10/06/p...
Hacker stole FEMA and border patrol data in months-long breach
www.cnn.com/2025/09/30/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/09/30/p...
Hacker stole sensitive FEMA and border patrol data in months-long breach | CNN Politics
An unidentified hacker stole sensitive data from Customs and Border Protection and Federal Emergency Management Agency employees in a “widespread” breach this summer that lasted several weeks, accordi...
www.cnn.com
September 30, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Hacker stole FEMA and border patrol data in months-long breach
www.cnn.com/2025/09/30/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/09/30/p...
UK authorities have arrested a man in his 40s in West Sussex in connection with the cyberattack that caused flight cancellations at Heathrow and other airports in Europe: www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/news/uk-arre...
UK arrest following aerospace cyber incident
A man has been arrested in the UK by the National Crime Agency as part of an investigation into a cyber incident impacting Collins Aerospace.
www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk
September 24, 2025 at 5:31 PM
UK authorities have arrested a man in his 40s in West Sussex in connection with the cyberattack that caused flight cancellations at Heathrow and other airports in Europe: www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/news/uk-arre...
Suspected Chinese hackers infiltrate US law firms, software developers amid trade fight with US:
www.cnn.com/2025/09/24/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/09/24/p...
Chinese hackers breach US software and law firms amid trade fight, experts say | CNN Politics
A team of suspected Chinese hackers has infiltrated US software developers and law firms in a sophisticated campaign to collect intelligence that could help Beijing in its ongoing trade fight with Was...
www.cnn.com
September 24, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Suspected Chinese hackers infiltrate US law firms, software developers amid trade fight with US:
www.cnn.com/2025/09/24/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/09/24/p...