A senior U.S. cybersecurity official has issued a clear recommendation to Americans: embrace encryption to secure their communications. Jeff Greene, Executive Assistant Director for Cybersecurity at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), emphasized during a Tuesday call with reporters that “encryption is your friend” and urged users to avoid plaintext messaging wherever possible.
The advice marks a notable shift in the U.S. government’s stance on encryption. Just a few years ago, FBI Director Chris Wray had called strong encryption “an urgent public safety issue,” amid efforts by law enforcement to weaken digital communication safeguards. Greene’s statement underscores a growing concern over cybersecurity threats, particularly from Chinese hackers alleged to be infiltrating U.S. telecommunications networks.
The call coincided with new government guidance on countering Chinese intrusions into telecoms. Washington has accused Beijing of targeting American telecom companies, such as T-Mobile, to extract sensitive data, including telephone audio intercepts and call records. Many of these records reportedly pertain to individuals in the Washington, D.C., area, raising alarm over potential espionage.
Chinese officials have consistently dismissed these allegations, labeling them as disinformation and asserting that China opposes all forms of cyberattacks and theft. Nevertheless, U.S. officials remain cautious, with Greene suggesting that hackers could remain embedded in telecom networks for an extended period. When asked about a timeline for resolving the issue, Greene noted, “It would be impossible for us to predict when we’ll have full eviction.”
The shift in U.S. messaging toward endorsing encryption reflects a pragmatic response to escalating cybersecurity threats. While past resistance to strong encryption centered on law enforcement access, the growing sophistication of cyber intrusions demands a reevaluation of priorities. Encryption, though not a perfect solution, offers a crucial layer of defense against adversaries exploiting vulnerabilities in critical systems like telecom networks. The advice to prioritize encrypted communication acknowledges the evolving landscape where safeguarding privacy and national security increasingly overlap
