Page 48 - IRANRptOct20

Iran ‘could become first country where internet is controlled by military’
York Times​.
Check Point Software Technologies​, a​ cybersecurity technology firm, and​ ​the Miaan Group​, ​a human rights organisation that focuses on digital security in the Middle East, reportedly claimed that the operation not only targets domestic dissidents, religious and ethnic minorities and anti-government activists abroad, but can also be used to spy on the general public inside Iran. The digital security reports were reviewed by the US daily in advance of their release. Obstacles created by encrypted applications such as Telegram are said to have been overcome by the hackers, while Miaan noted that they have even gained access to information on WhatsApp. The hackers have also created malware disguised as Android applications, the reports are said to note.
According to Check Point, the hackers—allegedly linked to a private technology firm in Iran’s northeastern city of Mashhad named Andromedaa from tracing malware used in attacks—use a variety of infiltration techniques, including phishing, but the most widespread method is sending what appear to be tempting documents and applications to carefully selected targets.
One of these is a Persian-language document titled “The Regime Fears the Spread of the Revolutionary Cannons.docx,” referring to the struggle between the government and anti-Islamic Republic exiled group MEK, sent to some of its members. Another document was purportedly disguised as a report widely awaited by human rights activists on a cybersecurity researcher.
Malware code in these documents triggered a number of spyware commands from an external server when the recipients opened them on their desktops or phones.
The spyware is said to have enabled the attackers to gain access to almost any file, log clipboard data, take screenshots and steal information. According to Miaan, one application empowered hackers to download data stored on WhatsApp.
Iran could become the first country where the internet is controlled by the military, a cybersecurity and digital rights researcher has warned. DW ​reported​ New York-based Amir Rashidi as raising alarm about a draft law initiated by lawmaker Nasrollah Pejmanfar, a legislator said to be convinced that neither the government nor parliament makes sufficient effort to regulate social media. Pejmanfar is the chairman of the Article 90 Commission, a constitutional body that hears complaints against the executive and legislative branches of Iran's government.
"Iran's security authorities have been trying to get control of the internet for 20 years," Rashidi reportedly said, adding: "There are also rumours that Iran is looking for help from Russia and China. If the bill is passed, Iran would be the first country where the internet is controlled by the military."
The likelihood of such a bill becoming legislation may be tied to how domestic and international politics play out in coming months, with the result of the November presidential election in the US clearly a key factor in Iran’s immediate future, given that a Joe Biden presidency would be expected to quickly call off, or at least ease, Donald Trump’s unrelenting economic war on the Islamic Republic.
Officially, all social media platforms in Iran are blocked, though not (yet) banned, DW noted. “However,” it reported, “according to a recent study by the Information and Communication Technology Ministry, more than half of Iran's 82 million inhabitants have accounts with at least one of the theoretically blocked social networks. The regime analyzes citizens' activities on social media to get a feeling for the mood as well as an overview of political activity.” Pejmanfar has told media that the military should take control of all internet
48​ IRAN Country Report October 2020 www.intellinews.com