Google revealed on Wednesday that an alleged Iranian hacking operation targeting US presidential campaigns is ongoing and more extensive than previously known. The hackers are focusing on the email accounts of current US officials and individuals associated with Vice President Kamala Harris, President Joe Biden, and former President Donald Trump.
In May and June, a hacking group linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targeted the personal email accounts of about a dozen people associated with Biden and Trump, including current government officials. Google researchers reported unsuccessful attempts by Iranian hackers to access the accounts of individuals linked to Biden, Harris, Trump, and both presidential campaigns.
The hacking activity adds to existing evidence of Iran's aggressive efforts to gather intelligence related to the 2024 presidential campaign. Suspected Iranian hackers breached the personal email account of Republican operative Roger Stone in an attempt to infiltrate the Trump campaign.
US intelligence and national security officials are on high alert for foreign efforts to influence the 2024 election. Senators Mark Warner and Marco Rubio emphasized the interest of foreign adversaries in disrupting the democratic process.
Russia remains a significant threat to US elections, according to a recent US intelligence assessment. The alleged Iranian hacking campaign is one of the initial signs of foreign interference in the upcoming election.
The Trump campaign, FBI, and Microsoft responded to the Iranian hacking attempts in June, aiming to contain the incident and assess potential cyber threats. A pseudonymous email account leaked internal Trump campaign documents to media outlets, sparking speculation about the connection between the hack and the leak.
While the Trump campaign has accused Iran of the leaked documents, the US government has not formally attributed responsibility for the hack or the leak. The Iranian government has denied any involvement in interfering with the US presidential election.
Google has alerted both campaigns about heightened malicious activity from foreign state actors and emphasized the importance of enhancing account security measures. The use of bots, trolls, and hacking in the 2016 US election by Russian intelligence services set a precedent for foreign operatives attempting to influence American voters.
Iran's aggressive targeting of US voters in the 2020 election surprised some officials. Iranian operatives impersonated the far-right Proud Boys group and created a threatening website aimed at election officials. Former US counterintelligence director William Evanina warned of Iran's capability and intent to conduct influence operations in the US election.
Evanina expressed concerns about Iran's aggressive behavior leading up to Election Day, highlighting the need for heightened vigilance and security measures to safeguard the democratic process.
