Microsoft: Cyber activity by threat group likely linked to Iranian government
US technology company Microsoft said on Thursday that hackers linked to the Iranian government have recently targeted a US presidential campaign, US government officials, journalists and prominent ex-patriate Iranians.
“We’ve recently seen significant cyber activity by a
threat group we call Phosphorous, which we believe originates from Iran and is
linked to the Iranian government,” Microsoft posted in a statement on its
website.
Microsoft said that in a 30-day period between August
and September, 241 accounts were attacked by Phosphorous and that the targeted
accounts are associated with a US presidential campaign, current and former US
government officials, journalists covering global politics and prominent
Iranians living outside Iran.
The US Democratic National Committee sent a warning
out to its 2020 presidential campaigns on Thursday.
“Today Microsoft informed us that a nation-state actor
is attacking accounts of journalists, politicians, and at least one
presidential campaign. Microsoft calls this threat actor Phosphorous, also
known as APT35, which is believe to be an Iranian hacking group,"
according to the e-mail.
The statement said Phosphorous is attacking personal
and work accounts through spear phishing emails and fake LinkedIn profiles.
