Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi speaks during a meeting with Cuba’s president Miguel Diaz Canel (out of frame) at the Revolution Palace in Havana, on June 15, 2023. (Photo by YAMIL LAGE / AFP) The potent cyber adversary threatening to further inflame Iranian politics A group calling itself GhyamSarnegouni has entered the Iranian cyber fray with a damaging hack-and-leak operation against the government. Jun 26, 2023 By AJ Vicens
People march with Iranian flags and with signs during a rally marking Al-Quds Day (Jerusalem), a commemorative day held annually on the last Friday of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan by an initiative started by late Iranian revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, in Tehran on April 14, 2023. (Photo by AFP / Getty Images) Microsoft says Iranian hackers combine influence ops with hacking for maximum impact Many of the 24 cyber-enabled Iranian influence operations Microsoft detected in 2022 were intended to further Iran's Mideast political agenda. May 2, 2023 By AJ Vicens
WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 30: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during the Summit for Democracy on March 30, 2023 in Washington, DC. The theme for the final day of the summit encompassed “Advancing Technology for Democracy” and included speakers from the Department of Homeland Affairs and and representatives from intelligence agencies (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Biden administration goes global in effort to constrain spyware use Eleven nations agreed on Thursday to responsible use of commercial spyware. Israel, a key spyware exporter, is not part of the deal. Mar 30, 2023 By Elias Groll
An Israeli flag flies in a street in front of the Ibrahimi Mosque or the Tomb of the patriarches, in the occupied West Bank town of Hebron, on May 26, 2022. (Photo by HAZEM BADER/AFP via Getty Images) Israel blames prolific Iranian-linked hacking group for February university hack MuddyWater has been attacking targets around the world for years, according to the U.S. and other western governments. Mar 8, 2023 By AJ Vicens
A general view taken from the Mount of Olives shows an Israeli flag with houses in Jerusalem’s predominantly Arab neighbourhood of Silwan appearing in the background, on January 2, 2023. (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI/AFP via Getty Images) New cybercrime group calling itself DarkBit attacks Israeli university It's not yet clear who is behind the group, but the name could have connections to other ransomware variants such as DarkSide and LockBit. Feb 13, 2023 By AJ Vicens
A photographic illustration shows a mobile phone near the NSO Group company logo on February 9, 2022 in the Israeli city of Netanya. (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images) Supreme Court clears way for WhatsApp case against NSO Group, opening spyware firm to more lawsuits The Biden administration previously weighed in on the case between Meta and the spyware maker to recommend the court dismiss the appeal. Jan 9, 2023 By Tonya Riley
A photographic illustration shows a mobile phone near the NSO Group company logo on February 9, 2022 in the Israeli city of Netanya. Several spyware vendors, including one co-founded by an NSO employee, appear in a Meta report on the surveillance-for-hire industry. (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images) Meta takes down surveillance-for-hire firms, calls for government action against the industry The surveillance-for-hire industry is growing quickly as new firms crop up around the globe to meet market demand. Dec 15, 2022 By Tonya Riley Suzanne Smalley
The Iranian national flag is seen outside the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) headquarters during the agency’s Board of Governors meeting in Vienna on March 1, 2021. (Photo by JOE KLAMAR/AFP via Getty Images) Iranian hackers that tampered with 2020 election could once again target U.S., FBI warns The group identified as Emennet Pasargad has been using "false-flag campaigns under the guise of multiple personas," the bureau said. Oct 21, 2022 By AJ Vicens
Members of the scientific police unit enter the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Tirana on September 8, 2022. Albania broke diplomatic ties with Iran on September 8 over an alleged cyberattack against the government this summer, as Washington vowed to hold Tehran accountable for targeting its NATO ally. (Photo by GENT SHKULLAKU/AFP via Getty Images) U.S. sanctions Iranian Ministry of Intelligence in response to Albanian cyberattack The July attacks involved multiple groups responsible for different aspects of the operation against Albania, researchers said. Sep 9, 2022
A photographic illustration shows a mobile phone near the NSO Group company logo on February 9, 2022 in the Israeli city of Netanya. Several spyware vendors, including one co-founded by an NSO employee, appear in a Meta report on the surveillance-for-hire industry. (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images) Will spyware maker NSO Group’s struggles reduce use of its eavesdropping tech? Critics doubt it. The company announced layoffs and a reorganization on Sunday, but spyware researchers doubt that will reduce the use of its technology. Aug 22, 2022