Cyber Crime
US, Israel Reveal Iranian Hackers’ Attempts to Target Olympics and Surveillance Cameras
Since 2020, the FBI has monitored a cyber threat group known as Cotton Sandstorm, Marnanbridge, and Haywire Kitten—most prominently identified as Emennet Pasargad, which recently rebranded to Aria Sepehr Ayandehsazan (ASA). Legally registered in Iran, ASA serves as a front for finance and HR activities, while allegedly engaging in cyber operations targeting the U.S., Europe, and the Middle East, despite its official cybersecurity focus within Iran.
The latest joint advisory by the FBI, U.S. Department of Treasury, and Israel’s National Cyber Directorate reveals ASA’s updated tactics and influence operations, including the use of its own hosting providers, Server-Speed and VPS-Agent, to manage its infrastructure and support Hamas-affiliated sites. Investigations indicate ASA contacted family members of Israeli hostages from the October 2023 Hamas attack, intending to cause psychological distress.
Additional operations include hacking a U.S. IPTV streaming company to spread propaganda, targeting Israeli IP cameras for unauthorized access, and compromising a French digital display provider in July 2024 to display anti-Israeli messaging ahead of the Summer Olympics. ASA also utilizes AI tools, including ChatGPT, to generate manipulated images and plan attacks on industrial control systems.
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