Microsoft warns of rising US election meddling attempts by Iranian actors
Microsoft has issued a stark warning about an uptick in Iranian efforts to meddle in the upcoming 2024 U.S. presidential election. According to the tech giant's latest threat intelligence report, Iran is increasingly deploying digital tools to influence the election outcome, including fake news websites, propaganda, and a phishing attack aimed at a presidential campaign.
This report aligns with recent assessments by U.S. intelligence agencies, which have noted Tehran's growing interest in shaping U.S. elections, particularly in the high-stakes race between former President Donald Trump and his Democratic opponents. Microsoft's findings come shortly after Vice President Kamala Harris replaced President Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee.
"Foreign malign influence concerning the 2024 U.S. election started off slowly but has steadily picked up pace over the last six months due initially to Russian operations, but more recently from Iranian activity," the report stated. "Over the past several months, we have seen the emergence of significant influence activity by Iranian actors."
The report identified multiple Iranian cyber groups, including those with code names like Sefid Flood, Mint Sandstorm, Peach Sandstorm, and Storm-2035, as key players in the campaign. These groups have been involved in a range of activities, from hacking the email accounts of key officials to creating fake news sites designed to amplify divisions among Americans and sway voters in key battleground states.
One such site, Nio Thinker, began publishing in late October, initially focusing on the Israel-Hamas conflict before shifting its attention to U.S. elections. The site has been particularly critical of Trump, with articles branding him as a "raving mad litigiosaur" and an "opioid-pilled elephant in the MAGA china shop."
The report also detailed a June phishing attack by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), targeting a senior official from one of the presidential campaigns. While the report did not specify which candidate was targeted, it noted that such attacks will likely increase as the election approaches.
U.S. intelligence officials have previously indicated that Iran’s meddling efforts are likely directed against Trump, possibly in retaliation for the 2020 drone strike he ordered that killed IRGC General Qasem Soleimani. Iran has denied any involvement in U.S. election interference, but U.S. authorities remain on high alert.
In addition to Iran, Microsoft pointed out that Russia and China continue to run long-standing campaigns to sow chaos and division, particularly in an election year. The company emphasized that the barriers to foreign election interference have become "vanishingly small," echoing concerns voiced by U.S. lawmakers.
Senator Mark Warner, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, recently warned that the 2024 election could see the most significant number of attacks yet by foreign adversaries, with Russia, Iran, and China leading the charge. He cited a combination of poorly regulated U.S. social media platforms and increasingly bold foreign adversaries as key factors exacerbating the threat.
As the U.S. braces for what could be one of the most contentious elections in its history, the spotlight is firmly on the government to see how it deals with the threat.
