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Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, revealed that it has taken action against a group of WhatsApp accounts linked to an Iranian hacking group. The group, identified as APT42, has been targeting officials connected to President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.
In a detailed blog post, Meta explained that it discovered fake WhatsApp accounts originating from APT42, a group known for its cyber espionage activities.
Meta Uncovers Iranian Hacking Group Targeting High-Profile Figures
According to Reuters, other tech companies, including Google, have previously identified APT42 as an "Iranian state-sponsored cyber espionage actor." This group has a history of targeting various individuals and organizations.
Meta's security team found that the hacked accounts were pretending to be technical support for major companies like AOL, Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft. These fraudulent accounts sent suspicious messages to users, who reported the activity through WhatsApp's in-app reporting tools. Meta stated that the accounts were blocked and that there was no evidence of any actual compromise of users' accounts.
According to Meta, APT42's scheme aimed at political and diplomatic figures, as well as other public personalities. The group targeted individuals linked to both the Biden and Trump administrations, and its reach extended to people in Israel, Palestine, Iran, and the United Kingdom.
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Heightened Election Security Concerns
The timing of this revelation is notable, as it coincides with the approach of the November US presidential election. Meta is under heightened scrutiny due to past incidents of its platforms being exploited in presidential campaigns. Despite this, the company assured the public that it had not found any compromised WhatsApp accounts.
Earlier this month, Microsoft had reported that various Iranian hacking groups, including one associated with APT42, were attempting to manipulate the US presidential election. Microsoft disclosed that these groups had sent phishing emails to a prominent member of a presidential campaign using a compromised email account.
In 2019, Microsoft also reported on hackers linked to the Iranian government who were targeting US presidential campaigns, government officials, and media outlets.
The recent Meta report adds to the ongoing concerns about foreign interference in US elections. Meta's blog post emphasized that while no specific individuals' names were disclosed, the hackers appeared to have focused on high-profile figures, including those involved in political and diplomatic roles.
The group's activities, including attempts to infiltrate US presidential campaigns, have been under scrutiny by researchers who monitor such threats. APT42 is known for deploying surveillance software on targets' mobile phones, which allows the group to activate cameras and microphones, record calls, and intercept messages, CNBC reported.
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