New Delhi, August 26: Meta has uncovered a network of WhatsApp accounts linked to Iranian hackers who were reportedly targeting officials from the Joe Biden and Donald Trump administrations. The alarming discovery comes as the US approaches its presidential elections, which raises concerns about the security of political figures.

As per a report of CNBC, Meta found WhatsApp accounts linked to Iranian hackers targeting Joe Biden and Donald Trump officials. As per the information available on an official blog post, the Iranian group, identified as APT42, is known for its phishing efforts aimed at political and diplomatic figures. Meta discovered and blocked a group of WhatsApp accounts pretending to be support agents for technology companies. Their tactics include impersonating technical support for major companies like Google, Microsoft and AOL to deceive their victims into revealing personal information. Meta Scraps Its Plans To Launch Premium VR Headset by 2027 To Compete Against Apple Vision Pro: Reports.

The investigation has connected this activity to APT42 carrying out phishing campaigns. They often target political and diplomatic officials, as well as other public figures, which includes the administrations of President Biden and former President Trump. Although there is no evidence that these specific WhatsApp accounts were compromised, Meta decided to take precautionary measures. They have shared their findings with law enforcement and other companies in the industry to verify that everyone is aware of the situation and can take appropriate action. Meta Purged Over 21 Million Pieces of Bad Content on Facebook and Instagram in India in May.

Meta is actively keeping an eye on information from different sources, including their own investigations and reports from users. The company advises public figures, journalists and political candidates to stay alert. The company further highlights to use of privacy and security settings and to avoid interacting with messages from unknown people and reporting any suspicious activity to Meta.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 26, 2024 02:20 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).