Adrian Johnson
TLDR:
Iranian government-tied hackers attempted to influence the 2024 US presidential election by targeting high-ranking officials on a presidential campaign and a county-level government. The hackers used spear-phishing emails and password spray operations to gain access to accounts. They also created fake news sites targeting US voters on both sides of the political spectrum. Iran denied interfering in the US election, stating that its cyber capabilities are defensive.
Full Article:
In a recent report, Microsoft researchers revealed that Iranian hackers with ties to the government targeted a “high-ranking official” on a US presidential campaign, following a breach of a county-level US official’s account. These actions were part of Iranian groups’ efforts to influence the upcoming US presidential election in November.
The Iranian hackers attempted to gain access to sensitive information through spear-phishing emails and password spray operations. They also created fake news sites, such as Nio Thinker and Savannah Time, to target US voters on different ends of the political spectrum. Despite these actions, Iran’s mission to the United Nations in New York denied any interference in the US election, stating that its cyber capabilities are defensive and proportionate.
The report highlighted the use of artificial intelligence by Iranian hackers to create covert news sites that mimic legitimate sources. Nio Thinker, a left-leaning site, and Savannah Time, a conservative site, were found to be using similar formats without listing any contact details. Both sites aimed to influence US voters and create political discord through manipulated content.
Overall, the Microsoft report underscored Iran’s increasing efforts to gather intelligence on US political campaigns and target swing states. While the hackers were unsuccessful in accessing additional accounts through the breaches, their activities reflect a broader strategy to disrupt the upcoming election.
