UK, US, and Netherlands Issue Warning on Iran-Linked Spyware Targeting Activists
Joint Cybersecurity Advisory and Details of Iranian Spyware Campaign
Overview of the Advisory
LONDON, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Britain, the United States and the Netherlands on Tuesday issued a joint cybersecurity advisory detailing spyware they say is used by Iranian state-linked actors to target dissidents, activists and journalists.
Technical Details of the "CHOSEN BRICK" Spyware
Methods of Attack
Britain's National Cyber Security Centre said Iranian state-linked cyber actors had used a spyware family known as "CHOSEN BRICK" to steal emails, messages and other sensitive information through "spear-phishing" campaigns on messaging platforms including WhatsApp and Telegram.
Official Statements
"The details of this cyber campaign reveal how Iran ruthlessly uses digital surveillance in pursuit of its aim to repress critics of the regime, stealing emails and messages and accessing devices," Paul Chichester, NCSC Director of Operations, said in a statement.
Iran's embassy in London did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Capabilities and Impact of the Malware
Information Gathering and Victim Impact
The malware, according to the advisory, can collect information from contact lists, emails and social media accounts, capture screen content and access a device's microphone. The NCSC said some victims' personal details had later appeared on pro-Iranian leak sites. The FBI, in its own advisory, said Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) was using the malware to "collect intelligence, conduct data leaks, and inflict reputational harm against their intended targets."
Scope of Targeting
The FBI did not immediately respond to a request for additional details on how many people have been targeted with the malware, or where they're located.
Attack Techniques and Deception Tactics
Social Engineering Approaches
The NCSC said the attackers often posed as trusted contacts on messaging apps and tailored their approach to individual targets. In some cases, it said, they used fake documents, including fabricated MRI test results, to persuade victims to download the malware.
International Cooperation and Attribution
Suppression of Dissent
The NCSC, alongside the FBI and the Netherlands' AIVD intelligence service, said Iran "almost certainly" uses cyber operations to help suppress people it sees as threats.
Previous Warnings and Hacking Personas
The FBI's advisory said it was an update to a March 2026 warning describing alleged MOIS efforts to use the malware to collect data on targets, which was then posted online by a hacking persona known as "Handala Hack."
Notable Attacks and Responses
High-Profile Targets
Handala has targeted multiple U.S. companies and people since the start of the Iran war, including a destructive cyberattack against Michigan-based medical supplies and services supplier Stryker in March, and the leak of FBI Director Kash Patel's personal emails later that month.
Response from Handala
Handala did not respond to an emailed request for comment on Tuesday.
Reporting Credits
(Reporting by Sam Tabahriti in London and AJ Vicens in Detroit; editing by William James, Alexandra Hudson)
