In the latest development in the realm of cybersecurity, the relatively lesser-known threat actor group, APT IRAN, has claimed responsibility for an Iran telecom cyber attack. They assert that they have successfully breached the databases of Iran Telecom and Irancell, boasting access to a substantial 4TB of sensitive data.
Furthermore, this revelation has cast a spotlight on the vulnerability of these telecom giants to cyber threats, with APT IRAN issuing a stark warning to both companies about the current susceptibility of their servers. Furthermore, they have threatened to substantiate their claims by uploading a penetration video and the purported 4TB of data onto the internet, initially announcing these intentions on the dark web.
During the Iran telecom cyber attack, MTN Irancell, the affected telecom company, faced significant disruptions, with its website inaccessible during the incident. Users attempting to access the site encountered the message “This site can’t be reached,” indicating a potentially severe disruption in services. Such disruptions can be attributed to various factors, including Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, Domain Name System (DNS) attacks, compromised network infrastructure, or malware infections.
While the exact motives behind the cyber attack remain undisclosed, it’s important to note that telecom retirees in Iran have been persistently advocating for their unmet needs over the past decade, while cities across the country have witnessed ongoing protests by telecom industry retirees, demanding better living conditions and pensions.
This incident is not an isolated event, as earlier this year, an Iranian dissident group disrupted servers and leaked classified files linked to the regime’s presidency apparatus, marking a significant blow to the Iranian government.
Protests have escalated across numerous Iranian cities, resulting in casualties and arrests by regime forces. APT IRAN, while relatively obscure compared to other threat actor groups, has now gained prominence with this audacious data breach claim. Nevertheless, the true identity of the APT IRAN hacker group remains elusive, and the Iran Telecom cyber attack continues to be an evolving story with updates expected as more information emerges or official confirmation is obtained from the affected company.