Pick your Security plan

Session 1 of the RealTyme and ITU Academy Course exposed critical vulnerabilities in legacy mobile infrastructure and consumer messaging apps still used by many governments. From protocol-level flaws to AI-driven threats, the session outlined why sovereign, policy-driven communication systems are now essential. This blog captures the highlights and the next steps.

It started quietly. A few messages leaked, a small breach no one saw coming. But beneath the surface, something much bigger was happening. Government agencies were using messaging apps they didn’t fully control. Apps built on foreign code, hosted on foreign servers, and changed to meet foreign rules.

Cybersecurity is a top strategic priority for 88% of CEOs, according to PwC’s 2024 Global CEO Survey. Yet, while leaders invest heavily in firewalls and zero-trust frameworks, one critical area remains dangerously overlooked: secure communication. Many organizations still rely on insecure, consumer-grade, or foreign-hosted platforms for daily conversations, leaving sensitive information exposed and widening the gap between cybersecurity strategy and operational reality.

What happens when a “secure” app breach spreads from one agency to half the world, exposing lawmakers, diplomats, and defense contractors across continents? The TM Signal breach was never just an American failure. It revealed a deeper problem: a world quietly dependent on clones, forks, and “compliant” versions of secure apps that no one fully audits or controls.

This is the story of how a well-meaning compliance clone of Signal compromised global government communications and why digital sovereignty must be rooted in architecture, not contracts. A government official sends a text, believing it's secure. A journalist reaches out to a source, trusting the platform. An executive confirms a deal, confident in confidentiality. All of them relied on apps that promised end-to-end encryption. But behind the scenes, a silent breach was unfolding.

RealTyme is leading the charge in creating a secure, sustainable digital future through community-driven innovation. By collaborating with users and global partners like ITU, we’re enhancing secure communication, promoting digital sovereignty, and addressing the digital divide. Our Cyber for Good initiative empowers users to actively shape the technologies that protect their privacy and strengthen digital security worldwide.