Iranian hackers are targeting US politics and infrastructure with gradually growing sophistication. For years, Iran has been trying to influence US foreign policy through cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns. While the country’s hackers are far less known and capable than those of other countries with state-sponsored hackers, such as North Korea, China, or Russia, they can also be a threat, and their cyber operations are becoming more sophisticated. For example, during the past US...

We examine how an isolated and poor country manages to profit at the expense of others. Over the last decade, North Korean hackers have increasingly exploited Western companies and organizations. From the Sony hack in 2014 to deploying WannaCry ransomware and infiltrating US firms with fake IT employees, the country’s cybercriminals have been busy profiting from cybersecurity weaknesses. The latest $1.5 billion crypto hack of the second-biggest cryptocurrency exchange, Bybit, was another...

Spyware acquired by governments is increasingly threatening civilians. While sophisticated spyware attacks may be very difficult to avoid, practicing basic internet hygiene and staying vigilant can help to minimize the risks. In February, the Italian National Union of Journalists submitted a criminal complaint against the country’s government after it shut down questions about alleged spying in parliament. Based on WhatsApp alerts sent to around 90 users in Europe, the union claimed that its...