Threat actor

Iran

3 mentions in 7 days · 3 in 30 days · 4 total · first seen Aug 15, 2026 · last 4h ago

Timeline4 articles

Iranian Hackers Use Fake MRI Results to Infect Victims With CHOSEN BRICK Spyware

Iranian state-linked hackers deliver CHOSEN BRICK Windows spyware via fake MRI results to surveil dissidents, activists, and journalists in the UK, US, and Netherlands.

A joint advisory from the UK NCSC, FBI, and the Netherlands' AIVD links Iranian state-linked actors to CHOSEN BRICK, a Windows spyware family used for long-term surveillance since at least 2025. Targets are approached on WhatsApp or Telegram with tailored lures such as fake MRI scan results or application files, and operators often redirect victims to personal devices to bypass corporate controls. The malware persists via Run registry keys, adds antivirus exclusions, uses a per-victim Telegram bot for command and control, and exfiltrates data through cloud storage and proxy services. Capabilities include screenshots, audio recording, email and messaging theft, command execution, file deletion, data wiping, and some victims' details have appeared on pro-Iranian leak sites for harassment.

Cyber Security Newsupdated 12:00 UTC · 39m agofirst 08:31 UTC · 4h agoThreat actor in the wild 5 sources

NCSC and Allies Warn of Iranian Spyware Campaign

NCSC, FBI and AIVD warn Iranian-backed actors deliver Chosen Brick spyware to regime critics via social engineering; stolen data has surfaced on pro-Iranian leak sites.

NCSC, the FBI and the Netherlands' AIVD published a joint advisory warning that a Tehran-backed campaign, active since at least 2025, targets dissidents, activists and journalists with Chosen Brick spyware. The malware persists via Windows registry keys, adds Microsoft Defender exclusions, uses Telegram for C2, and captures screens, audio, emails and Telegram or WhatsApp messages. Stolen data has surfaced on pro-Iranian leak sites in some cases, raising risks to victims' personal safety.

Infosecurity Magazineupdated 12:00 UTC · 39m agofirst 08:25 UTC · 4h agoThreat actor in the wild 5 sources

Hackers Disguise CHOSEN BRICK Malware as AI Apps, Antivirus Software and MRI Results

NCSC, FBI, and AIVD warn Iranian state-linked actors deliver CHOSEN BRICK Windows spyware via fake AI apps, antivirus installers, and MRI-result lures.

A joint advisory from the UK NCSC, FBI, and Dutch AIVD details CHOSEN BRICK (FBI tracking name: HEAVYGRAM), Iranian state-linked Windows spyware targeting dissidents, activists, and journalists worldwide since at least 2025. Lures impersonate Pictory, RunwayML, Norton Antivirus, Telegram, Adobe Flash Player, and KeePass, and operators pivot conversations from corporate to personal devices to bypass enterprise controls. The spyware persists via Registry Run keys, adds Microsoft Defender exclusions, uses per-victim Telegram bots for command-and-control, and exfiltrates screenshots, audio, email, and chat data via Telegram and cloud services, with some victim data appearing on pro-Iranian leak sites.

GBHackersupdated 12:00 UTC · 39m agofirst 06:57 UTC · 5h agoMalware in the wild 5 sources

Iran Cyberattacks Against Minnesota Water Systems

Preliminarily attributed to Iran, cyberattacks hit Minnesota water systems as part of a campaign targeting at least seven US states.

A campaign of cyberattacks against water systems in Minnesota and at least six other US states has been preliminarily attributed to Iran, though no real damage has been reported so far. US President Trump publicly disputed the Iranian attribution, blaming Minnesota authorities instead. The incident underscores ongoing nation-state targeting of US water utilities.

Schneier on SecurityAug 15, 00:00 UTC · Aug 15, 2026Threat actor in the wild

Appears with

organization NCSC 3 malware Chosen Brick 3 organization AIVD 3 organization FBI 3 product Telegram 2 product Microsoft Defender 2 victim Minnesota water systems 1 malware HEAVYGRAM 1 product WhatsApp 1 product Windows 1 vendor AIVD 1 vendor FBI 1 vendor Microsoft 1 vendor NCSC 1 organization Telegram 1

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