Recently unsealed criminal charges reveal that three Iranian government-linked hackers were involved in a sophisticated hacking operation aimed at individuals associated with former President Donald Trump. Among the targets was Ginni Thomas, a conservative activist and the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
The hackers, between April and May 2024, utilized a fake email account set up in the name of Ginni Thomas to send spearphishing emails to various high-profile individuals, including a former homeland security adviser and a former US president. While the indictment does not explicitly name Ginni Thomas, it references the persona created in the name of the justice's spouse.
It was revealed that the hackers established the fraudulent email account in April 2020 but only deployed it in their operations four years later. Additionally, between June and August 2024, the hackers gained access to a personal email account of a Trump campaign official. They proceeded to steal sensitive information such as 'debate preparation' material and details on potential vice presidential candidates.
The Justice Department alleged that the leaked material was part of an Iranian effort to sow discord during the election by providing select information to US media outlets. This incident underscores the ongoing threat posed by state-sponsored cyberattacks and the importance of cybersecurity measures to safeguard against such malicious activities.
