Meta Platforms has revealed a sophisticated attempt by the Iranian hacking group APT42 to infiltrate WhatsApp accounts of senior U.S. administration officials, including those associated with President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.
In a recent blog post, Meta disclosed that its security teams had thwarted a series of fake technical support accounts on WhatsApp. These accounts, posing as representatives from major tech companies such as AOL, Google, Yahoo, and Microsoft, were identified as part of APT42’s ongoing phishing campaigns. This group, also known as UNC788 or Mint Sandstorm, is notorious for targeting political and diplomatic figures globally.
Meta’s findings align with previous warnings from Google’s Threat Analysis Group and Microsoft Threat Intelligence, which both reported Iranian efforts to breach the personal email accounts of individuals connected to Biden and Trump. The tech giants identified APT42 as the responsible entity, highlighting a pattern of targeted cyber intrusions.
Meta emphasized that while there is no concrete evidence that the WhatsApp accounts were compromised, the company has proactively shared its findings with law enforcement and industry partners. This precautionary measure is intended to bolster security for individuals in high-risk positions.
Meta’s blog post elaborated on the nature of the attacks, noting that the Iranian-originated phishing attempts aimed at individuals in various countries, including Israel, Palestine, Iran, the U.S., and the U.K. The primary targets were political and diplomatic figures, alongside other prominent public figures linked to both the Biden and Trump administrations.
In response to these threats, Meta has advised public figures, journalists, and political campaigns to exercise heightened vigilance. The company urged users to leverage privacy and security settings, refrain from interacting with unknown contacts, and report any suspicious activity.
As the U.S. election approaches, Meta, along with other tech giants, continues to monitor the situation closely, ready to act against further malicious activities targeting its platforms.
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