Microsoft reports Iranian cyberattacks on US officials

Microsoft researchers revealed that Iranian government-linked hackers attempted to breach the account of a high-ranking US presidential campaign official in June, following an earlier breach of a county-level US official’s account. These incidents are part of a broader effort by Iranian groups to influence the upcoming US presidential election, though specifics about the targeted campaign official were not disclosed.

The report aligns with recent statements from US Intelligence officials, who have observed Iran’s increased use of fake social media accounts to sow political discord in the United States. The Iranian mission to the UN denied these allegations, claiming that Iran’s cyber capabilities are defensive and that it does not interfere in US elections.

In addition to the hacking attempts, Microsoft researchers highlighted that Iranian groups have been creating ‘covert’ news sites, using AI to mimic content from legitimate sources and targeting US voters with divisive content. Two such sites, Nio Thinker and Savannah Time, are designed to appeal to opposite ends of the political spectrum, furthering efforts to influence public opinion ahead of the election.