Meta Links Iranian Hackers to WhatsApp Breach Attempts on U.S. Officials

Meta Platforms has attributed recent attempts to access WhatsApp accounts of U.S. political figures to an Iranian hacker group known as APT42. The company reported that the group targeted individuals associated with both the Biden and Trump administrations, as well as officials in Israel, Palestine, and the U.K. In response to the threat, Meta suspended a small number of accounts linked to the hacking attempts, which were disguised as tech support for major companies like AOL and Microsoft. The FBI has indicated that these hacking efforts are part of a broader Iranian strategy to interfere with U.S. elections, having previously targeted both Democratic and Republican campaigns. Meta's investigation revealed that the hackers had posed as technical support agents, leading to the discovery of their activities after users reported suspicious messages. While Meta has not confirmed any successful breaches, it is sharing its findings with law enforcement and industry partners as a precaution. Recent reports from Google and Microsoft have also highlighted the Iranian group's attempts to infiltrate personal email accounts of individuals connected to both presidential campaigns. U.S. intelligence officials suggest that Iran's cyber operations aim to undermine confidence in American democracy and influence political outcomes, particularly against candidates perceived as hostile to Iranian interests. As the November elections approach, concerns about foreign interference in U.S. politics are heightened, with Meta's findings underscoring the ongoing risks posed by state-sponsored cyber espionage.