{"id":2330555,"date":"2024-08-24T22:12:02","date_gmt":"2024-08-25T02:12:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/iran-targeting-whatsapp-accounts-of-biden-and-trump-administration-associates-meta-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2024-08-24T22:15:04","modified_gmt":"2024-08-25T02:15:04","slug":"iran-targeting-whatsapp-accounts-of-biden-and-trump-administration-associates-meta-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/iran-targeting-whatsapp-accounts-of-biden-and-trump-administration-associates-meta-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran targeting WhatsApp accounts of Biden and Trump administration associates: Meta &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Firan-targeting-whatsapp-accounts-of-biden-and-trump-administration-associates-meta-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2330555&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Meta\u2064 reported that an Iranian hacker\u2062 group known as\u200c APT42 \u2063targeted WhatsApp accounts of \u2062individuals associated with the Biden\u200d and Trump administrations. The company revealed that it blocked a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/5-reasons-making-taxpayers-pay-off-student-loans-is-a-rotten-idea\/\" title=\"5 Reasons Making Taxpayers Pay Off Student Loans Is A Rotten Idea\">small number<\/a> of accounts \u2063masquerading as technical support for \u2064<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/the-former-intel-officials-who-claimed-hunter-bidens-laptop-was-disinformation-are-at-it-again\/\" title=\"The Former Intel Officials Who Claimed Hunter Biden\u2019s Laptop Was \u2018Disinformation\u2019 Are At It Again\">major tech firms<\/a>\u2063 like Microsoft \u2062and Google. This <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-unveils-new-cybersecurity-push-amid-rising-threats-from-china-and-russia\/\" title=\"Biden Unveils New Cybersecurity Push Amid Rising Threats From China And Russia\">malicious activity<\/a>, originating from Iran, aimed at \u2062political and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bipartisan-momentum-grows-in-congress-to-act-on-uyghur-genocide\/\" title=\"Bipartisan Momentum Grows in Congress To Act on Uyghur Genocide\">diplomatic officials<\/a> as well as public figures\u200d in various countries, including the \u2064U.S.,\u2064 the UK, Israel, and Palestine. Although Meta confirmed the targeting attempts,\u200c it\u200c stated that there was no evidence to \u200csuggest that any accounts were compromised.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Iran targeting WhatsApp accounts of Biden and Trump administration associates: Meta<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1736971\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Meta said on Friday that an <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/iran\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>Iranian<\/a> hacker group targeted the <a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/social-media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title>WhatsApp accounts<\/a> of people associated with the administrations of President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>In a <a href=\"https:\/\/about.fb.com\/news\/2024\/08\/taking-action-against-malicious-accounts-in-iran\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"report\">report<\/a>, Meta said it blocked a &ldquo;small cluster&rdquo; of WhatsApp accounts that were posing as technical support for tech companies including Microsoft, Google, and Yahoo. Meta said they linked the activity to the Iranian group APT42, which is known for targeting political officials and other public figures.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;This malicious activity originated in Iran and attempted to target individuals in Israel, Palestine, Iran, the United States and the UK,&rdquo; Meta said. &ldquo;This effort appeared to have focused on political and diplomatic officials, and other public figures, including some associated with administrations of President Biden and former President Trump.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>However, Meta added it did not have evidence any accounts were compromised.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnn.com\/2024\/08\/24\/politics\/iranian-hackers-biden-trump-whatsapp\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"report \">report <\/a>comes less than a week after U.S. intelligence agencies <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3126590\/iran-responsible-trump-campaign-hack-intel-agencies-say\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"issued\">issued<\/a> a joint statement saying Iran was behind the Aug. 10 hack of Trump&rsquo;s campaign. The hack led to multiple media outlets receiving private campaign materials from an anonymous source.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The FBI, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said they were &ldquo;confident&rdquo; Iranians have made other attempts to target both the Republican and Democratic presidential campaigns, and that Iran&rsquo;s efforts to affect this year&rsquo;s election have become &ldquo;increasingly aggressive.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Meta said it shared information about this new activity with law enforcement and presidential campaigns due to the &ldquo;heightened threat environment&rdquo; ahead of the November election.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1736971\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1736971\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Iran is attempting to hack WhatsApp accounts of individuals linked to the Biden and Trump administrations, according to Meta. On Friday, Meta reported that it had blocked a &#8220;small cluster&#8221; of WhatsApp accounts impersonating technical support for major tech companies like Microsoft, Google, and Yahoo. This activity has been attributed to the Iranian hacker group APT42, which is known for its focus on political figures and public officials. Meta stated that this malicious campaign originated in Iran and aimed at individuals in Israel, Palestine, Iran, the United States, and the UK. The targets included political and diplomatic officials from both Biden&#8217;s and Trump&#8217;s administrations. However, Meta noted that there was no evidence indicating any accounts were actually compromised. This announcement follows a recent joint statement from U.S. intelligence agencies attributing an August 10 hack of Trump&#8217;s campaign to Iran; this incident resulted in private campaign materials being leaked to various media outlets by an anonymous source. The FBI along with other agencies expressed confidence that Iranian efforts have also targeted both Republican and Democratic presidential campaigns as part of increasingly aggressive attempts to influence this year&#8217;s election. In light of these developments and the approaching November election, Meta has shared information about these activities with law enforcement agencies as well as presidential campaigns due to heightened security concerns<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3359,"featured_media":2330556,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/AP23165462874069-1024x683.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[3620,3823,3634,7726],"class_list":["post-2330555","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-biden","tag-iran","tag-trump","tag-whatsapp"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/AP23165462874069-1024x683.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2330555","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3359"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2330555"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2330555\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2330556"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2330555"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2330555"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2330555"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}