UK: Spyware Program Used by Iranian Entities to Target Dissidents, Activists, and Journalists Discovered

London, September 15 (KUNA) -- The UK’s National Cyber Security Centre announced on Tuesday that Britain and its allies had uncovered a spyware program used by Iranian state-affiliated actors to target dissidents, activists, and journalists.

In a statement, the Centre said that, in collaboration with international partners from the United States and the Netherlands, it had uncovered details about how Iranian state-sponsored cyber attackers used the spyware known as “Charming Kitten” to compromise specific targets by deceiving them into downloading the software, which could “allow tracking of their movements.”

The statement added that “dissidents, activists, and journalists around the world, including those residing in the United Kingdom who are viewed as a threat to Iran, were among the categories targeted by the spyware.”

It clarified that the spyware enables attackers to collect information about the targets’ contacts, email messages, and social media communications. It also includes functions for capturing screen content and accessing the device’s microphone.

The Centre confirmed that Iranian state-affiliated actors were observed impersonating contacts via messaging applications such as WhatsApp and Telegram to build trust with targets before deploying the malware and stealing sensitive information, which later appeared on data-leak websites.

The Centre emphasized that the British government had made its position clear: there would “never be tolerance” for any attempt by a foreign power to intimidate, harass, monitor, or target individuals in the United Kingdom in any way.

The National Cyber Security Centre, in coordination with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Dutch General Intelligence and Security Service (AIVD), issued a new warning regarding the “Charming Kitten” operation and how to avoid related attacks. (End)