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Last Updated On: May 03, 2025 10:09 AM , Published On: Nov 01, 2024 10:30 AM
Everyone acknowledges the ongoing rivalry between the US and Iran. Well, today’s news is also one aspect of the silent war between the two countries, soaring the situation more than before.
It reveals that the U.S. Department of Treasury, Israel National Cyber Directorate, and FBI accused the Iranian cyber group of hacking the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Well, it has shaken analysts and the common public. Here is what you need to know more about the latest information.
Iran Cyber-attack: Accusation from the West
It is not new that Iran runs cyber operations against the West. This time, a notorious Iranian cyber group that Emennet Pasargad leads has attempted a cyber-attack on the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. The cyber company has tried to control the display boards to display anti-Israel messages.
It has also received accusations from the West: the FBI, the U.S. Department of Treasury, and the Israel National Cyber Directorate stand in the first row through an advisory warning. The accusations highlight that Emennet intends to hijack a French commercial display provider to post anti-Israel propaganda and criticize Israel’s participation in the Olympic Games.
Additionally, Emennet and ASA employed other cyberattack methods to target the Olympics 2024. They extracted data from IP cameras used for surveillance and used several artificial intelligence tools for their operations.
Disinformation and Psychological Warfare Tactics
The advisory that the Israeli or US nation released explains that Pasargad conducted a strategy of providing fabricated information to create confusion and fear. What the ASA group did was publish a fake news article on French media to send threatening messages to athletes belonging to Israel.
Furthermore, Iran and Emennet mysteriously launched a cyberattack and impersonated Regiment GUD, a French far-right group that sounds like GUD. You must note that they intend to present the article to lead Israelis and French nations astray, making them think that the French group has done all. However, the reality was the opposite, and Iranian cyber attackers used it to spread misinformation.
Use of Generative AI and Cyber Tools
Regarding the use of AI tools in the Summer Olympics 2024 in Paris, the advisory revealed that Emennet used tools to generate false identities, fake news anchors, AI-powered voice changers, and photo enhancers to provide misinformation. All they want is to produce content that cannot be detected easily.
Campaign Targeting Israeli Families and Security Guards
As mentioned earlier in the advisory, Iranian hackers have tried contacting Israeli families to threaten them. In this regard, they contacted the families of those Israelis held hostages by Hamas in Gaza since October 7, 2023.
They pour this thought into their minds that Hamas has issued a deal regarding releasing the hostages, manipulating their sentiments. Additionally, they recognized Israeli security guards involved in the conflict through IP cameras. The agenda of the Iranian cyber attackers is misusing the information that shows Israel is wrong in its doing.
Background of Emennet Pasargad’s Cyber Activities
Many of you must have known Emennet Pasargad. Still, his brief introduction and background motivate you to evaluate recent events critically. Emennet Pasargad is a renowned Iranian cyberattack organization involved in several worldwide hacking operations.
Earlier, the organization indulged in operations against Israel and influenced the 2020 US presidential elections. It would be best to note that Emennet also has a cover for its operations. One of his covers is a company called Aria Sepehr Ayandehsazan (ASA), while Cotton Sandstorm and Haywire Kitten are his go-by campaigns.
U.S. and Israeli Sanctions on Emennet Pasargad Members
The outcome of these activities is that the US and Israeli officials have punished Emennet Pasargad. Moreover, they arranged a prize for the public in February 2022 regarding the information of the arrest of Iranian hackers Sajjad Kashian and Seyyed Mohammad Hosein Musa Kazemi, who were involved in various cyber-attacks. Not only this, the State Department also sanctioned group members in response to recent attacks, attempting to damage former President Donald Trump's campaign.