Microsoft: Iran Targets 2024 Election with Disinformation

Microsoft's Threat Analysis Center has identified increased cyber activities by Iranian groups aimed at influencing the 2024 U.S. presidential election. The report highlights that Iranian operatives have set up fake news sites, such as 'Nio Thinker' and 'Savannah Time,' to target both liberal and conservative audiences with divisive content, often using AI to generate or plagiarize articles. In addition to these influence operations, Iranian hackers linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) attempted phishing attacks on high-ranking officials in U.S. presidential campaigns. These actions are part of broader efforts by Iran, Russia, and China to interfere in U.S. elections, with Iran's strategy focusing more on disrupting the electoral process rather than swaying voter outcomes.