Meta cracks down on Iranian hackers on WhatsApp

The American technology conglomerate, Meta, has cracked down on an Iranian hacking group on messaging platform WhatsApp targeting the forthcoming United States election.

The company said in a statement on Monday it had disabled WhatsApp accounts connected to “a small cluster of likely social engineering activity” on the platform.

IMeta revealed that it had traced the activity back to APT42, also known as UNC788 and Mint Sandstorm.

READ ALSO:Meta, Spotify kick against European Union privacy regulation around AI

The Federal Bureau of Investigation ( FBI) had previously connected APT42 to a phishing attempt that was directed at individuals in the Trump and Harris camps.

The statement read: there was suspicious behavior on WhatsApp that “attempted to target individuals in the United States, the United Kingdom, Israel, Palestine, and Iran.

‘Additionally, it appeared to have concentrated on diplomats and political figures, including those connected to both presidential contenders..,”

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now