An Iranian hacking group, known as Cotton Sandstorm, is actively targeting U.S. election-related websites and American media outlets as the presidential election draws near, indicating plans for increased influence operations.
The group, linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, has been conducting reconnaissance and probing multiple election-related websites in key battleground states, as well as scanning a U.S. news outlet for vulnerabilities in May.
As the November 5 presidential election approaches, Vice President Kamala Harris faces off against Republican candidate Donald Trump in what polls predict will be an extremely tight race.
“Cotton Sandstorm will increase its activity as the election nears given the group’s operational tempo and history of election interference,” researchers wrote. The development is particularly concerning because of the group’s past efforts, they said.
A spokesperson for Iran’s mission to the United Nations said that “such allegations are fundamentally unfounded, and wholly inadmissible.”
“Iran neither has any motive nor intent to interfere in the U.S. election,” the spokesperson said.
In a previous cyber-enabled influence operation, Cotton Sandstorm posed as the right-wing “Proud Boys” and sent thousands of threatening emails to Florida residents, urging them to “vote for Trump or else!” shortly before the 2020 presidential election.
A video surfaced on social media, allegedly from activist hackers, showcasing an election system probe ¹. Although the operation didn’t compromise individual voting systems, its intention was to sow chaos, confusion, and doubt, according to senior U.S. officials.
In the aftermath of the 2020 election, Cotton Sandstorm orchestrated a separate operation promoting hostility toward U.S. election officials who disputed widespread voter fraud claims, Microsoft revealed.
Following inquiries, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, responsible for shielding the election from foreign interference, directed Reuters to a previous statement: “Foreign actors — particularly Russia, Iran, and China — remain intent on fanning divisive narratives to divide Americans and undermine Americans’ confidence in the U.S. democratic system.”
Source: https://www.reuters.com/
