According to Microsoft, the Iranian state-backed hacking group Holy Souls, known as NEPTUNIUM, which has been sanctioned by the US, is responsible for the 2020 Charlie Hebdo hack.
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In early January 2023, the Iranian nation-state group, which has been sanctioned by the US government, was accused of hacking the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.
Microsoft, which disclosed details of the incident, is monitoring the chemical elements cluster named NEPTUNIUM, an Iran-based company known as Emennet Pasargad.
In January 2022, the FBI uncovered a malicious influence campaign orchestrated by two Iranian nationals and supported by a state-sponsored cyber unit to interfere in the 2020 U.S. presidential election. These individuals were formally charged for their role in spreading disinformation and threats throughout that election cycle.
Microsoft recently revealed that the Holy Souls hacking group, known as NEPTUNIUM, claimed to have in its possession the private information of 200,000 Charlie Hebdo customers, including names, phone numbers, and home/email addresses.
The breach, which allowed NEPTUNIUM to gain access to an internal database, is believed to have been orchestrated in retaliation against the publication for holding a cartoon contest that “ridiculed” Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
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"After Holy Souls published the data samples on YouTube and several hacking forums, the leak was amplified by a coordinated operation across various social media platforms," the Digital Threat Analysis Center (DTAC) said.
“This amplification effort utilized a specific set of influence tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) that DTAC has seen in the past in Iranian hack-and-leak influence operations.”
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There are many similarities between the two entities, such as the use of aliases to carry out hacking and leaking operations, deceptive sockpuppet accounts, and impersonation of authoritative individuals – something that aligns with a warning released by the FBI in October 2022.
According to the FBI's assessment, the ultimate goal is to weaken public trust in victim companies and target countries, undermining the security of networks and data.
The organization noted that these hack-and-leak campaigns not only cause financial losses and reputational damage to victims, but also involve a combination of hacking and data theft in addition to developing intelligence operations.
Charlie Hebdo has been an integral part of French culture since 1970, and its impact is still felt today. Despite being attacked for its sometimes controversial content, the magazine has remained steadfast in its commitment to free speech, while continuing to provide provocative commentary on current affairs. Its resilience has inspired many and serves as a reminder that we must always protect our right to freedom of expression if we are ever to have a true democracy.
Information source: thehackernews.com
