The US Department of Justice released an indictment accusing three Iranian hackers of a “hacking and leak” campaign aimed at influencing the 2024 US presidential election.
Iranian nationals Masoud Jalili, Seyyed Ali Aghamiri, and Yaser Balaghi worked for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to hack the accounts of current and former U.S. officials, people linked to multiple U.S. political campaigns, and members of the media. communication.
According to the Department of JusticeTheir attacks were part of a broader Iranian effort attempting to steal sensitive information about U.S. officials and influence U.S. elections.
In May 2024, after years of attacking former US government officials, the trio shifted their attention to people connected to Trump’s presidential campaign. the accusation alleges.
They successfully gained unauthorized access to campaign officials’ personal accounts, stealing campaign documents and emails.
In late June, hackers began a “hack and leak” operation, attempting to leak stolen materials from US media outlets and individuals associated with the Biden campaign, with the intent of damaging Trump’s 2024 presidential bid.
“In late June and early July, malicious Iranian cyber actors sent unsolicited emails to individuals then associated with President Biden’s campaign that contained an excerpt taken from stolen, non-public material from the former Trump campaign as text in emails,” according to a joint declaration released on September 18 by CISA, the FBI and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
“There is currently no information indicating that those recipients responded. Additionally, Iranian malicious cyber actors have continued their efforts since June to send stolen and non-public material associated with former President Trump’s campaign to US media organizations.”
Their “hack and leak” operation began in January 2020 and involved phishing and social engineering tactics.
By 2022, they expanded their efforts and targeted a former US government official to steal personal information that could help identify future victims.
Iranian nationals linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps have been accused of a “hacking and leak” operation targeting the 2024 US presidential election. #FBI Director Wray condemns these efforts to sow discord in American politics, stating that threats to democracy… pic.twitter.com/Wq67SvbLap
–FBI (@FBI) September 27, 2024
The US Department of State also offers a 10 million dollar reward for information on Jalili, Aghamiri and Balaghi. At the same time, the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) has appointed Jalili for its involvement with the IRGC, imposing sanctions as part of ongoing efforts to curb foreign interference in US elections.
“These hacking and leaking efforts by Iran are a direct attack on the integrity of our democratic processes.” saying Deputy Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen.
“This indictment alleges a serious and sustained effort by a state-sponsored terrorist organization to gather intelligence by hacking into personal accounts so that the hacked materials could be used to harm Americans and corruptly influence our elections,” the prosecutor added. U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves for the District of Columbia. today.
