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Facebook claims that Iranian hackers used bogus accounts to target the US and European defence workers

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Last Updated on 17/07/2021 by Sanskriti

A network of accounts linked to an Iranian hacking organization was taken down, announced by Facebook. Employees of the defence and aerospace industry of The United Kingdom, the United States along Europe were being targeted by this organization. 

A gang that utilized social networking sites called Tortoiseshell, controlled over 200 accounts were trying to impersonate journalists, recruiters, and other employees who were removed by Facebook. They were engaged in earning their targets confidence and misled them into clicking on fraudulent links. According to Facebook, the hacking group’s effort aimed to acquire login details, collect data about its victims’ digital devices, and distribute tailored malware.

Mike Dvilyanski, Facebook’s head of cyber espionage investigations, told reporters on Thursday that, The campaign had “all the hallmarks of well-resourced, persistent behavior.” Mahak Rayan Afraz is a Tehran situated IT firm that is suspected to be behind some of the malware. According to Facebook, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is somehow linked to it. According to Dvilyanski, Facebook also alerted law authorities about the hacking organization and the less than 200 people who were affected.

The Facebook report was released as part of the company’s regular disclosures concerning governments and groups that use its platform for disinformation operations. Twitter said it was “actively examining” the material in Facebook’s report and LinkedIn, which is controlled by Microsoft, announced the removal of a number of accounts. The virus was distributed via email, chat, and collaboration platforms, according to Facebook, including rogue Microsoft Excel spreadsheets.

Google, owned by Alphabet, claimed it has discovered and prevented spoofing on Gmail, as well as sent user warnings. App for communicating in the workplace Slack claimed it has taken action against the hackers who were using the platform for social engineering, as well as shutting down any Workspaces that had broken its policies.

According to Facebook, the hackers utilized customized domains to entice their targets, internet infrastructure that spoofs the US Department of Labor’s official job search website, and including phoney defence recruitment websites.

Iranian spies, like other espionage services, have long been accused of contracting out their missions to a variety of local firms.

MRA was one of the numerous contractors accused of assisting the IRGC’s elite Quds Force, according to cybersecurity firm Recorded Future last year.

Sanskriti
Sanskriti
Sanskriti loves technology in general and ensures to keep TheDigitalHacker audience aware of the latest trends, updates, and data breaches.
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