WASHINGTON, April 25 -- US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth had an unsecured internet connection, known as a "dirty" line, installed in his Pentagon office to use the Signal messaging app on a personal computer, according to two sources familiar with the matter.

This revelation adds to growing concerns about Hegseth's handling of sensitive defence information and potential security vulnerabilities at the highest levels of the Department of Defence.

The Associated Press reported that the unsecured connection bypassed Pentagon security protocols and could have exposed sensitive information to potential hacking or surveillance threats.

Unlike standard Pentagon connections that employ robust security filters and protocols, a "dirty" line con...