Iranian Hackers Target US Presidential Campaigns

Meta has blocked a small cluster of WhatsApp accounts linked to Iranian-backed hackers from APT42, who targeted U.S. political figures and campaigns, including the Trump and Biden administrations. Their recent activities align with intensified cyber operations by Iranian hackers, including phishing attempts against campaign staff and hacking into Trump's internal documents. The group, associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, has also attempted to breach Utah state government sites, indicating the wide scope of their cyberespionage efforts. Experts warn that APT42's tactics involve sophisticated deception techniques and surveillance capabilities, posing significant threats to high-profile targets. Both Microsoft and Google have intervened to disrupt these hacking efforts, confirming Iran's involvement in election-related cyberattacks. The Iranian government has denied any intent to interfere in U.S. elections, attributing the attacks to opposition to Trump's policies towards Iran.