An Iranian hackers group that Meta Platforms, owner of Facebook and WhatsApp, said targeted both Democratic and Republican presidential campaigns in 2020 also sought to hack the official WhatsApp accounts of staffers who worked under President Joe Biden as well as former President Donald Trump.
Modus Operandi: Masquerading as Tech Support From Iranian hackers
Meta added that the network of hackers, who have masqueraded as tech support agents for firms such as Microsoft and Google on WhatsApp messages, was able to target their intended victims after people receiving the suspicious business-promoting communications informed it. Meta’s sleuths traced the activity back to the same network implicated in a hacking incident reported by the Trump campaign.
Iran has conducted a computer-hacking campaign against the Trump and Biden campaigns – but not to affect their position in U.S. society, according to an FBI warning issued this week; it was part of Iran’s broader effort to influence American elections.
Meta’s Response to the Iranian Hackers Attempts
In a statement on Friday, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, said that people in the Middle East, the U.S. Britain were among those whose WhatsApp accounts had been targeted by hackers as well as “governmental individuals,”. Including officials linked to both prior presidential administrations under Trump and Biden). Meta said that a small group of accounts were removed from the platform.
Meta said that the targeted WhatsApp accounts did not appear to have been breached but added. “Out of an abundance of caution, we share our findings publicly and with law enforcement and others in the industry.”
Iran’s Broader Cyber Campaign Against U.S. Democracy
U.S. intelligence believes Iran’s intensifying efforts are partly aimed at confusing and polarizing voters in a bid to delegitimize U.S. democracy. Chip away at support for Israel or counter candidates who it thinks could work with Washington against Tehran.
Iran has threatened to kill President Trump in revenge for his administration. He was scrapping a nuclear deal with Iran and slapping sanctions on, as well as assassinating Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani.
Iranian government A Secret USAID Protest in July over Israel’s war against Hamas, Director National Intelligence Avril Haines said. Haines said that Iranian-linked groups also masqueraded as online activists and almost certainly were the beneficiaries of protest funds.
Messages left with the Trump and Harris campaigns were not immediately returned on Friday.
FAQs
Who the Iranian hacker targeted as peed in an article?
In 2020, Iranian hackers went after both Democratic and Republican presidential campaigns as well as any staffers still laboring under the presidencies of Joe Biden or Donald Trump. They also went after U.S. government personnel in the Middle East and politicians in Britain.
Iranian hackers According to Briton Operations?
At the time, hackers posed as tech support agents for companies like Microsoft and Google through WhatsApp messages. They targeted their victims using underhanded business-promoting communications.
How did Meta Platforms react to the hacking attempts?
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and WhatsApp, shared research findings publicly. The company also noted cooperation with law enforcement and removed a handful of suspect accounts from its platform.
Why is Iran hacking?
U.S. intelligence concludes that Iran wishes to use its hacking capability to express voters and agitate divisiveness within the U.S.A. democracy, eroding backing in the College of Israel or crafting candidates that are considered threats to Tehran’s regime.
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