Google, Microsoft confirm Iran hackers hacking Trump, Biden-Harris campaigns

A recent report from Google has confirmed that Iranian hackers, specifically a group known as APT42, have been conducting phishing attacks targeting prominent U.S. political figures, including former President Trump, President Biden, and Vice President Harris. These attacks, which date back to the 2020 Presidential Election cycle, have raised concerns about the cybersecurity threats posed to U.S. election campaigns. The FBI has been investigating these sophisticated spear-phishing attempts since June. APT42, believed to be state-sponsored and linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, employs tactics such as building trust with targets through chat platforms before delivering malicious payloads. The group has also been banned from using OpenAI's ChatGPT for creating disinformation aimed at influencing U.S. elections. Despite Iran's denial of involvement, the report highlights the ongoing risks of cyber espionage and the potential impact on the electoral process.

- Iranian hackers APT42 targeted Trump, Biden, and Harris in phishing attacks.

- The FBI has been investigating these cyber threats since June.

- APT42 is linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and has a history of cyber-espionage.

- The group has been banned from OpenAI for using ChatGPT to create disinformation.

- Iran has denied involvement in the hacking attempts.