Iranian Hackers Ramp Up Efforts to Disrupt US Presidential Election

As the US gears up for its upcoming presidential election, a cybersecurity alert is sounding: Microsoft has identified an Iranian hacking group, known as Cotton Sandstorm, intensifying its efforts to interfere with the election process.

Recent reports link Cotton Sandstorm, affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, to targeted surveillance and probing of US election websites, particularly in key battleground states. Back in May, the group scouted for vulnerabilities in a major American news organization’s infrastructure, aiming to assess entry points for potential disruption.

This isn’t the group’s first attempt at political interference. During the 2020 election, Cotton Sandstorm made headlines by impersonating the right-wing group “Proud Boys” in an email campaign, sending intimidating messages to voters in Florida. They even released a video that allegedly demonstrated how they could manipulate election systems, aiming to create public distrust in election integrity.

With foreign threats looming, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) has issued a warning about potential foreign attempts to undermine democratic processes. While Iran dismisses these claims as baseless, US officials remain vigilant.

As Election Day approaches on November 5, with Vice President Kamala Harris facing Donald Trump in a tightly contested race, concerns over cybersecurity and election integrity are paramount.

Are these actions meant solely to disrupt or something more calculated? For now, US cybersecurity teams are on high alert to protect the democratic process from any outside interference.