Technology
Iranian hackers ramp up digital attacks on US political campaigns
Elections are coming up, and threat actors are ramping up efforts to manipulate voters and attack political campaigns. Cybersecurity researchers have discovered new network infrastructure set up by Iranian hackers, aimed at targeting U.S. political campaigns. They use phishing emails and links to trick users into installing malicious software, often pretending to be cloud services.
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Illustration of a hacker using phishing techniques (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
What you need to know
The infrastructure has been discovered by Recorded Future’s Insikt Group, which has been tracking it since June 2024. The cybersecurity company has linked the infrastructure to GreenCharlie, an Iran-nexus cyberthreat group with connections to Mint Sandstorm, Charming Kitten, and APT42.
“GreenCharlie’s phishing operations are highly targeted, often employing social engineering techniques that exploit current events and political tensions,” Recorded Future said.
The hackers have set up their systems very carefully, using specific services to create websites for phishing attacks. These fake websites often look like they belong to cloud services, file-sharing platforms or document-viewing tools to trick people into sharing personal information or downloading harmful files.
Some examples of these fake website names include “cloud,” “uptimezone,” “doceditor,” “joincloud” and “pageviewer.” Most of these sites were registered with the .info domain, which is a change from the other domains like .xyz, .icu and .online that hackers used in the past.
Illustration of a hacker at work (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
DON’T FALL PREY TO THIS ELECTION SEASON’S CRAFTIEST SCAMS
It’s not their first rodeo
The threat actors are known for launching highly targeted phishing attacks, where they use sophisticated social engineering tricks to infect users with malware. Some of the malware they use includes POWERSTAR (also known as CharmPower and GorjolEcho) and GORBLE, which was recently identified by Google’s Mandiant as being used in attacks against Israel and the U.S.
“Iran and its associated cyber-espionage actors have consistently demonstrated both the intent and capability to engage in influence and interference operations targeting U.S. elections and domestic information spaces. These campaigns are likely to continue utilizing hack-and-leak tactics aimed at undermining or supporting political candidates, influencing voter behavior, and fostering discord,” the cybersecurity company said.
Illustration of a hacker at work (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
HACKED, SCAMMED, EXPOSED: WHY YOU’RE 1 STEP AWAY FROM DISASTER ONLINE
Phishing attacks are more advanced than ever
A phishing email or message is often the start of a cyberattack. Hackers send you a link that is designed to look legitimate, but it’s not. Instead, it delivers malware to your computer, giving hackers access to your system and allowing them to steal your money and data. You can’t blame yourself if you don’t recognize a phishing link.
Earlier this month, I reported on malware called “Voldemort,” which tricks people into clicking malicious links by pretending to be a government agency. This highlights how clever these scammers are in using deceptive techniques to infect your devices.
The best way to protect yourself from clicking malicious links that install malware that may get access to your private information is to have antivirus protection installed on all your devices. This can also alert you of any phishing emails or ransomware scams. Get my picks for the best 2024 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.
4 additional ways to protect yourself from phishing attacks
To protect yourself from phishing attacks that use fake cloud services and other deceptive tactics, here are some specific steps you can take.
1) Verify website URLs: Always check the URL of a website before entering any sensitive information. Look for signs of a secure connection, such as “https://” and a padlock symbol in the browser’s address bar. Be cautious of slight misspellings or unusual domain extensions like .info.
2) Invest in data removal services: Hackers target you based on your publicly available information. That could be anything from your leaked info through a data breach to the information you provided to an e-commerce shop. Check out my top picks for data removal services here.
3) Keep software and systems updated: Regularly updating your operating system, browsers and security software is crucial to protect against vulnerabilities that hackers could exploit. Updates often include security patches, bug fixes and performance improvements. Enable automatic updates to ensure you don’t miss important patches. Manually check for updates if automatic options aren’t available. Staying current helps maintain device security and functionality.
4) Use strong, unique passwords: Employ strong, unique passwords for each account to prevent unauthorized access. Create passwords with a mix of letters, numbers and symbols, and avoid using the same password for multiple accounts. Consider using a password manager to securely store and generate complex passwords. It will help you to create unique and difficult-to-crack passwords that a hacker could never guess. Get more details about my best expert-reviewed Password Managers of 2024 here.
3 MOST DANGEROUS TECH THREATS TO 2024 ELECTIONS
Kurt’s key takeaway
U.S. elections not only matter to Americans but also to the rest of the world, which is one reason foreign adversaries are attempting to manipulate the campaigns. Hackers are working hard to infect people’s devices to conduct espionage, spread misinformation and cause financial losses. The best thing you can do is stay alert, avoid clicking any links you don’t trust and invest in antivirus software. Hackers are changing their methods, so it’s important to take advantage of the available tools to protect yourself.
Do you verify the authenticity of a website or email before clicking on links or providing personal information? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.
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Copyright 2024 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
OpenAI announced yet another reorganization Friday, consolidating certain areas and making company president Greg Brockman the official lead of all things product.
In a memo viewed by The Verge, Brockman wrote that since OpenAI’s product strategy for this year is to go all-in on AI agents, the company is combining its products to “invest in a single agentic platform and to merge ChatGPT and Codex into one unified agentic experience for all.”
To do this, the company is making a suite of org chart changes, although it’s still operating under some of the same ones from last month. That’s when AGI boss Fidji Simo went on medical leave and OpenAI announced that Brockman would be in charge of product strategy and CSO Jason Kwon, CFO Sarah Friar, and CRO Denise Dresser would take control of business operations.
It’s all part of OpenAI’s recent strategic shift to focus on key revenue drivers like coding and enterprise and stop pouring resources into “side quests” ahead of its potential IPO later this year and amid investor pressure to turn a profit.
In Simo’s continued absence, Brockman’s role leading product strategy is now official, as well as the company’s “scaling” arm. Under Brockman will be four different pillars. The first is core product and platform, led by Thibault Sottiaux, who has been OpenAI’s engineering lead for Codex, and the second is critical enterprise industries, led by ChatGPT head Nick Turley. Third is the consumer pillar, such as health, commerce, and personal finance, which will be led by Ashley Alexander, who has been its healthcare products VP. The fourth pillar — core infrastructure, ads, data science, and growth — will be led by Vijaye Raji, who has been OpenAI’s CTO of applications.
Brockman wrote in the memo that OpenAI’s goal is now to “bring agents to ChatGPT scale, in order to give individuals and organizations significantly more value and utility from our products.”
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You’re going about your day when your phone buzzes. A text hits your phone. It looks official. It sounds urgent. And suddenly, you are being told you owe money for a traffic violation. That is exactly what Todd from Texas experienced. He emailed us and said:
“I received this text message today. It was so baffling because I haven’t lived in California for nearly a decade. I didn’t click on anything or respond. How can I tell if this is for real or if this is a scam?”
If you’ve gotten a message like this, you are not alone. This type of scam is spreading fast, and it is designed to pressure you into acting before you think. Let’s break down what is really going on.
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FAKE AGENT PHONE SCAMS ARE SPREADING FAST ACROSS THE US
This message may look official, but several red flags show it is likely a scam designed to pressure you into paying quickly. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
What the traffic ticket scam text looks like
At first, the message seems convincing. It claims to be a “final reminder” from the California DMV, and it warns of penalties like license suspension and added fees. It even includes a link that appears somewhat official. However, once you slow down and take a closer look, the red flags quickly start to pile up.
The biggest red flags in this message
Here are the key warning signs to watch for in messages like this.
9 WAYS SCAMMERS CAN USE YOUR PHONE NUMBER TO TRY TO TRICK YOU
1) The phone number makes no sense
The message comes from a number with a +63 country code. That is the Philippines, not California. Government agencies in the U.S. do not send official legal notices from international numbers. That alone is a major warning sign.
2) No name, just “Dear Driver”
Legitimate notices from a DMV or court almost always include your full name or at least some identifying information. “Dear Driver” is vague on purpose. It allows scammers to send the same message to thousands of people.
3) The link isn’t a real DMV website
The message includes this link:
ca.mnvtl.life/dmv
That isn’t a government domain. Official DMV websites in California use “.ca.gov” or similar trusted domains. Scammers often create lookalike links to trick you into clicking.
4) Urgency and threats
The message pushes you to act quickly with a deadline. It lists consequences like license suspension and extra charges. Scammers rely on fear. When you feel rushed, you are more likely to click without thinking.
FBI WARNS OF DANGEROUS NEW ‘SMISHING’ SCAM TARGETING YOUR PHONE
5) Asking you to reply to proceed
The text says to reply with “Y” to get instructions. That is another trap. Responding confirms your number is active, which can lead to more scam messages.
6) Generic language and odd phrasing
Parts of the message feel slightly off. The tone is formal but not quite right. That subtle awkwardness is common in scam messages sent to large groups of people.
7) Overloaded threats designed to scare you
The message piles on consequences like license suspension, added fees, court action and even credit damage. In this case, it even mentions a license suspension and a $160 late payment charge. That combination is meant to overwhelm you and push you to act fast. Real agencies usually provide clear, specific notices, not a long list of escalating threats in a single text.
INSIDE A SCAMMER’S DAY AND HOW THEY TARGET YOU
Scam texts like this often arrive out of nowhere and try to create urgency before you have time to question them. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
What this means for you
Even if you have never driven in California, you could still receive this message. Scammers cast a wide net and hope someone takes the bait. If you click the link, you could be taken to a fake payment page. That page may ask for your credit card details, personal information or login credentials. In some cases, it can also install malware on your device or redirect you to credential-stealing pages. This isn’t about a ticket. It is about getting your data. State DMVs typically do not send final legal notices or payment demands by text message.
Why these scams keep working
These messages work because they tap into something most people fear. Legal trouble, fines and losing driving privileges. They also look just real enough to pass a quick glance. That is all scammers need. As more services move online, these scams will continue to evolve.
Unlike typical DMV scams, this message impersonates a court and escalates the threats to make the situation feel more serious (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
Ways to stay safe from traffic ticket text scams
Start with a simple rule. Never trust a payment request that shows up out of nowhere. Here are practical steps you can take:
1) Do not click the link
If you are unsure, do not tap anything in the message. That includes links and reply options.
2) Use strong antivirus software
If you accidentally click a link, strong antivirus software can help detect malware and protect your data. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com
3) Verify directly with the DMV
Go to your state’s official DMV website by typing it yourself into your browser. Do not use the link in the text.
4) Check the sender carefully
Look at the phone number. International numbers or random strings are a clear warning sign.
5) Ignore generic greetings
Real notices will usually include your name or case details. Vague language is a red flag.
6) Consider a data removal service
Scammers often get your number from data broker sites. Removing your personal info from those databases with a data removal service can reduce these messages. Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com
7) Block and report the number
On your phone, block the sender and report it as spam. This helps reduce future attempts.
8) Turn on spam filtering
Enable spam filtering on your phone or through your carrier to catch more of these messages before they reach you.
Kurt’s key takeaways
Todd did the right thing. He paused, questioned the message and did not click. That one decision likely saved him from handing over personal information. When it comes to messages like this, skepticism is your best defense. If something feels off, trust that instinct.
Should phone carriers and tech companies be doing more to block scams like this before you ever see them? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com
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Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.
Honda revealed prototypes of two new hybrid models, an Accord sedan and the Acura RDX SUV, during its annual business briefing this week, built on a platform that it says will begin launching next year. The RDX was announced earlier this year as Honda’s first SUV to feature the next-gen version of its two-motor hybrid system.
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