Clicky

  • Login
  • Register
  • Submit Your Content
  • Contact Us
Wednesday, August 21, 2024
World Tribune
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Technology
  • Sports
  • Health
  • Food
Submit
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Technology
  • Sports
  • Health
  • Food
No Result
View All Result
World Tribune
No Result
View All Result

Iranians are creating fake news websites and impersonating activists to create chaos in the U.S., Microsoft found

August 10, 2024
in Business
Reading Time: 4 mins read
A A
Iranians are creating fake news websites and impersonating activists to create chaos in the U.S., Microsoft found
0
SHARES
ShareShareShareShareShare

Iranians are creating fake news websites and impersonating activists to create chaos in the U.S., Microsoft found

Iran is accelerating online activity that appears intended to influence the U.S. election, in one case targeting a presidential campaign with an email phishing attack, Microsoft said Friday.

READ ALSO

The EU wants no corner of the digital sphere left untouched, warning X and AI could be next

Federal judge derails FTC’s sweeping ban on non-compete agreements

Iranian actors also have spent recent months creating fake news sites and impersonating activists, laying the groundwork to stoke division and potentially sway American voters this fall, especially in swing states, the technology giant found.

The findings in Microsoft’s newest threat intelligence report show how Iran, which has been active in recent U.S. elections, is evolving its tactics for another election that’s likely to have global implications. The report goes a step beyond anything U.S. intelligence officials have disclosed, giving specific examples of Iranian groups and the actions they have taken so far. Iran’s United Nations mission denied it had plans to interfere or launch cyberattacks in the U.S. presidential election.

The report doesn’t specify Iran’s intentions besides sowing chaos in the United States, though U.S. officials have previously hinted that Iran particularly opposes former President Donald Trump. U.S. officials also have expressed alarm about Tehran’s efforts to seek retaliation for a 2020 strike on an Iranian general that was ordered by Trump. This week, the Justice Department unsealed criminal charges against a Pakistani man with ties to Iran who’s alleged to have hatched assassination plots targeting multiple officials, potentially including Trump.

The report also reveals how Russia and China are exploiting U.S. political polarization to advance their own divisive messaging in a consequential election year.

Microsoft’s report identified four examples of recent Iranian activity that the company expects to increase as November’s election draws closer.

First, a group linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard in June targeted a high-ranking U.S. presidential campaign official with a phishing email, a form of cyberattack often used to gather sensitive information, according to the report, which didn’t identify which campaign was targeted. The group concealed the email’s origins by sending it from the hacked email account of a former senior adviser, Microsoft said.

Days later, the Iranian group tried to log into an account that belonged to a former presidential candidate, but wasn’t successful, Microsoft’s report said. The company notified those who were targeted.

In a separate example, an Iranian group has been creating websites that pose as U.S.-based news sites targeted to voters on opposite sides of the political spectrum, the report said.

One fake news site that lends itself to a left-leaning audience insults Trump by calling him “raving mad” and suggests he uses drugs, the report said. Another site meant to appeal to Republican readers centers on LGBTQ issues and gender-affirming surgery.

A third example Microsoft cited found that Iranian groups are impersonating U.S. activists, potentially laying the groundwork for influence operations closer to the election.

Finally, another Iranian group in May compromised an account owned by a government employee in a swing state, the report said. It was unclear whether that cyberattack was related to election interference efforts.

Iran’s U.N. mission sent The Associated Press an emailed statement: “Iran has been the victim of numerous offensive cyber operations targeting its infrastructure, public service centers, and industries. Iran’s cyber capabilities are defensive and proportionate to the threats it faces. Iran has neither the intention nor plans to launch cyber attacks. The U.S. presidential election is an internal matter in which Iran does not interfere.”

The Microsoft report said that as Iran escalates its cyber influence, Russia-linked actors also have pivoted their influence campaigns to focus on the U.S. election, while actors linked to the Chinese Communist Party have taken advantage of pro-Palestinian university protests and other current events in the U.S. to try to raise U.S. political tensions.

Microsoft said it has continued to monitor how foreign foes are using generative AI technology. The increasingly cheap and easy-to-access tools can generate lifelike fake images, photos and videos in seconds, prompting concern among some experts that they will be weaponized to mislead voters this election cycle.

While many countries have experimented with AI in their influence operations, the company said, those efforts haven’t had much impact so far. The report said as a result, some actors have “pivoted back to techniques that have proven effective in the past — simple digital manipulations, mischaracterization of content, and use of trusted labels or logos atop false information.”

Microsoft’s report aligns with recent warnings from U.S. intelligence officials, who say America’s adversaries appear determined to seed the internet with false and incendiary claims ahead of November’s vote.

Top intelligence officials said last month that Russia continues to pose the greatest threat when it comes to election disinformation, while there are indications that Iran is expanding its efforts and China is proceeding cautiously when it comes to 2024.

Iran’s efforts seem aimed at undermining candidates seen as being more likely to increase tension with Tehran, the officials said. That’s a description that fits Trump, whose administration ended a nuclear deal with Iran, reimposed sanctions and ordered the killing of the top Iranian general.

The influence efforts also coincide with a time of high tensions between Iran and Israel, whose military the U.S. strongly supports.

Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines said last month that the Iranian government has covertly supported American protests over Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. Groups linked to Iran have posed as online activists, encouraged protests and provided financial support to some protest groups, Haines said.

America’s foes, Iran among them, have a long history of seeking to influence U.S. elections. In 2020, groups linked to Iran sent emails to Democratic voters in an apparent effort to influence their votes, intelligence officials said.

___

Associated Press writers David Klepper and Eric Tucker in Washington contributed to this report.

Recommended Newsletter:

CEO Daily provides key context for the news leaders need to know from across the world of business. Every weekday morning, more than 125,000 readers trust CEO Daily for insights about–and from inside–the C-suite. Subscribe Now.

Credit: Source link

ShareTweetSendSharePin
Previous Post

Customer service chatbots are buggy and disliked by consumers. Can AI make them better?

Next Post

Australian breakdancer ‘Raygun’ goes viral at Olympics

Related Posts

The EU wants no corner of the digital sphere left untouched, warning X and AI could be next
Business

The EU wants no corner of the digital sphere left untouched, warning X and AI could be next

August 21, 2024
Federal judge derails FTC’s sweeping ban on non-compete agreements
Business

Federal judge derails FTC’s sweeping ban on non-compete agreements

August 21, 2024
How to watch, stream the Democratic National Convention Night Two live online free without cable, on NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox, CNN, MSNBC
Business

How to watch, stream the Democratic National Convention Night Two live online free without cable, on NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox, CNN, MSNBC

August 21, 2024
We’re Gen Z college dropouts who raised .4M for our blockchain startup. Here’s how we did it
Business

We’re Gen Z college dropouts who raised $41.4M for our blockchain startup. Here’s how we did it

August 20, 2024
MLB legend Derek Jeter’s best business advice
Business

MLB legend Derek Jeter’s best business advice

August 20, 2024
Elon Musk’s litigation strategy is about ‘punishing defendants for their speech’
Business

Elon Musk’s litigation strategy is about ‘punishing defendants for their speech’

August 20, 2024
Next Post
Australian breakdancer ‘Raygun’ goes viral at Olympics

Australian breakdancer 'Raygun' goes viral at Olympics

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

What's New Here!

Ferrari exec foils deepfake plot by asking a question only the CEO could answer

Ferrari exec foils deepfake plot by asking a question only the CEO could answer

July 27, 2024
Yankees soak in awestruck Little Leaguers prior to Tigers game

Yankees soak in awestruck Little Leaguers prior to Tigers game

August 19, 2024
Harris VP names Shapiro, Kelly, Walz, Buttigieg can raise big money

Harris VP names Shapiro, Kelly, Walz, Buttigieg can raise big money

July 29, 2024
Warner Bros. Discovery says it will match Amazon

Warner Bros. Discovery says it will match Amazon

July 22, 2024
Taiwan under pressure to bolster defense amid Trump-Harris election race

Taiwan under pressure to bolster defense amid Trump-Harris election race

August 5, 2024
Fed’s key gauge rose 2.5%

Fed’s key gauge rose 2.5%

July 26, 2024
China’s first university degree in marriage offers courses like matchmaking

China’s first university degree in marriage offers courses like matchmaking

August 2, 2024

About

World Tribune is an online news portal that shares the latest news on world, business, health, tech, sports, and related topics.

Follow us

Recent Posts

  • Volatility spike was a ‘huge overreaction,’ but more could be ahead, strategist says
  • The EU wants no corner of the digital sphere left untouched, warning X and AI could be next
  • Kevin James recreates viral video in electric Mets moment
  • Japan trade on deck, Wall Street rally pauses

Newslatter

Loading
  • Submit Your Content
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • DMCA

© 2024 World Tribune - All Rights Reserved!

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Business
  • Technology
  • Sports
  • Health
  • Food

© 2024 World Tribune - All Rights Reserved!

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In