Google confirms an Iranian group is trying to access emails linked to both US presidential campaigns

Google has confirmed that an Iranian group, believed to be linked to the country’s Revolutionary Guard, has been attempting to access personal email accounts associated with both US presidential campaigns. According to Google’s threat intelligence arm, the group has been actively targeting individuals connected to President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump since May.

The news comes amid heightened concerns about foreign interference in US elections and the potential for cyber attacks on political campaigns. Google’s revelation underscores the ongoing threat posed by nation-state actors seeking to compromise sensitive information and disrupt democratic processes.

The Iranian group, which has not been named, is believed to have used phishing tactics in an attempt to gain access to email accounts. Phishing involves sending fraudulent emails or messages that appear legitimate in order to trick users into revealing sensitive information, such as login credentials or personal data.

Google’s threat intelligence arm has been monitoring the group’s activities and has taken steps to prevent further attempts at infiltration. The company has also notified affected individuals and organizations of the attempted breaches.

This is not the first time that Google has detected attempts by foreign actors to interfere with US elections. In 2019, the company revealed that it had foiled a phishing attack on the campaign of a 2020 presidential candidate, though it did not disclose the name of the candidate or the country suspected of being behind the attack.

The latest attempt by the Iranian group highlights the ongoing threat posed by nation-state actors to democratic processes and the need for increased vigilance in protecting sensitive information. It also underscores the critical role that tech companies like Google play in detecting and preventing such attempts at interference.

In response to the news, a spokesperson for President Biden’s campaign stated that they take cyber security very seriously and have taken steps to protect their systems and data. The Trump campaign has not yet commented on the matter.

The attempted infiltration by the Iranian group comes at a time of heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington, following the US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and the subsequent increase in economic sanctions against Iran.

Google’s announcement serves as a reminder that foreign actors continue to target US political campaigns and emphasizes the need for increased cooperation between tech companies, law enforcement agencies, and political organizations to prevent such attempts at interference. It also highlights the critical role that cyber security plays in protecting democratic processes and ensuring the integrity of elections.