Iran is ramping up online activity aimed at influencing the U.S. election, including targeting a presidential campaign with email phishing attacks, Microsoft revealed on Friday.
Iranian actors have been creating fake news sites and impersonating activists to sow division and potentially sway American voters, especially in swing states, according to the tech giant’s findings.
Microsoft’s latest threat intelligence report highlights Iran’s evolving tactics in another election with global implications. The report goes beyond what U.S. intelligence officials have disclosed, providing specific examples of Iranian groups and their actions. Iran’s United Nations mission denied any plans to interfere or launch cyberattacks in the U.S. presidential election.
The report does not specify Iran’s intentions beyond causing chaos in the U.S., although U.S. officials have suggested that Iran opposes Donald Trump. Officials have also expressed concerns about Tehran seeking retaliation for a 2020 strike on an Iranian general ordered by Trump.
The report also exposes how Russia and China are leveraging U.S. political polarization for their own divisive messaging in an important election year.
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Microsoft’s report identifies four recent examples of Iranian activity that is expected to escalate as the election approaches in November.
One group linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard targeted a high-ranking official from a U.S. presidential campaign in June with a phishing email, disguising the email’s origins by sending it from a hacked account of a former senior adviser, the report revealed.
In another instance, an Iranian group attempted to access the account of a former presidential candidate without success. The report also mentioned the creation of fake news sites posing as U.S.-based sites catering to voters on different ends of the political spectrum.
Iran’s U.N. mission provided a statement: “Iran has been the victim of numerous offensive cyber operations, and its cyber capabilities are defensive and proportionate to the threats it faces. Iran does not have intentions to launch cyber attacks on the U.S. presidential election.”
Microsoft also noted how Russia-linked actors are shifting their influence campaigns towards the U.S. election, while entities linked to the Chinese Communist Party are capitalizing on current events to stoke U.S. political tensions.
Concerns were raised about generative AI technology being used by foreign actors to create misleading content. Microsoft warned that these tools could be used to deceive voters, prompting a return to past tactics that have been effective in influencing elections.
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Top intelligence officials have emphasized Russia’s continued threat in election disinformation, with indications of Iran expanding its efforts and China proceeding cautiously for the 2024 elections.
Iran’s actions appear aimed at undermining candidates who may increase tension with Tehran, such as Trump, whose administration took aggressive actions against Iran. The influence campaigns coincide with heightened tensions between Iran and Israel, a close U.S. ally.
Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines mentioned Iran’s covert support for American protests over Israel’s conflict with Hamas, showcasing the intricate web of influence efforts surrounding the U.S. election.
America’s adversaries, including Iran, have a history of attempting to sway U.S. elections. In 2020, groups linked to Iran targeted Democratic voters in an effort to influence the election results.