Security News > 2024 > February > Iran's cyber operations in Israel a potential prelude to US election interference

Iran's anti-Israel cyber operations are providing a window into the techniques the country may deploy in the run-up to the 2024 US Presidential elections, Microsoft says.

An analysis of Iran's activity, published by Microsoft Threat Analysis Center today, concluded that Iran may again target US elections as it did in 2020, using more sophisticated techniques from a wealth of different groups.

Iran's influence operations, for example, pushing anti-Israel propaganda, were shown to be highly effective at reaching Western audiences - a tactic that could feasibly be transposed to the US election too.

Iran's influence efforts are essentially categorized by the US as those that seek to undermine the legitimacy of its elections and institutions more so than any single candidate.

In addition to Iran's methods for conducting influence operations, including the abuse of social media platforms and pushing news content that's seemingly legitimate, Iran has also demonstrated its significant cyber capability in recent attacks in Israel to support its campaign.

In addition to pushing the boundaries, poking the US to see what it can get away with, as it has done recently with the attack on its water systems late last year, Iran has engaged in destructive cyber operations akin to those used in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

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https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/02/07/irans_cyber_operations_in_israel/