Iranian Hacking Groups Go Dark During US, Israeli Military Strikes
TL;DR
Iranian hacking groups remained inactive during recent US and Israeli military strikes, highlighting a decline in Iran's cyber capabilities. Pro-regime media and apps were compromised to spread propaganda, while Iran's internet blackout continued.
Source: Bloomberg
Iran’s feared hacking groups have failed to play a meaningful role as the U.S. and Israel wage a new war, a silence cybersecurity analysts say underscores how far the Islamic Republic’s online attack and disinformation capabilities have withered. American and Israeli airstrikes against Iran on Feb. 28 were quickly followed by cyber operations intended to spread propaganda there. A popular Iranian prayer app, BadeSaba, was reportedly hijacked to tell its users that “help has arrived” and then urged Iranian army members to surrender. In the early hours of fighting, pro-regime news agencies were compromised and Iranian television stations were repurposed to broadcast videos of President Donald Trump and Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu, according to Israeli media outlets. Separately, CNBC reports that Iran’s internet blackout entered its fourth day amid reports of cyberattacks. Full Story