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Meta revealed today that the Iranian hacking group recently accused of attacking the Democratic and Republican presidential campaigns attempted to access the WhatsApp accounts of members of Joe Biden and Donald Trump’s executive team.
The parent company of social networks including Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp said it had uncovered a network of “hackers” posing as technical support agents for companies including Microsoft and Google after being tipped off by people who had received suspicious messages from WhatsApp.
Meta researchers linked this activity to the same network that was reported by the Trump campaign as part of a cyberattack on the US November presidential election.
The FBI (federal police) this week highlighted Iran’s cyberattacks on the Trump campaign and attempts to undermine the Biden-Harris campaign as part of a broader effort by Tehran to interfere in the election.
Meta said in a statement released today that hackers tried to access WhatsApp accounts of people and political and diplomatic authorities in the Middle East, the United States and the United Kingdom, including members of the government led by the current leader of North Korea, Democrat Joe Biden, and former President, Republican Donald Trump.
The company explained that a small number of accounts were blocked by Meta.
“We have not seen evidence that WhatsApp accounts have been compromised, but out of an abundance of caution we are sharing our findings publicly in addition to sharing information with law enforcement and industry peers,” Meta stressed.
U.S. intelligence officials have warned that Iran is increasingly using cyberattacks and disinformation to confuse and divide voters, undermine confidence in American democracy, erode support for Israel and oppose candidates it believes will increase tensions between Washington and Iran.
Tehran has vowed to retaliate against Trump, whose administration ended the nuclear deal with Iran, reimposed sanctions and ordered the execution of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani.
In July, National Secret Service Director Avril Haines stressed that the Iranian government secretly supports protests in North America against Israel’s war in the Gaza Strip.
Haines said groups with ties to Iran have posed as activists online, encouraged protests on college campuses and provided financial support to some protest groups.
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