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The tech company\u2019s threat intelligence arm said the group is still actively targeting people associated with Biden, Trump and\u00a0Vice President Kamala Harris<\/a>, who replaced Biden as the Democratic candidate last month when he dropped out. It said those targeted have included current and former government officials, as well as presidential campaign affiliates.<\/p>\n The new\u00a0report<\/a>\u00a0from Google\u2019s Threat Analysis Group affirms and expands on a Microsoft\u00a0report<\/a>\u00a0released Friday that revealed suspected Iranian cyber intrusion in this year\u2019s U.S. presidential election. It sheds light on how foreign adversaries are\u00a0ramping up their efforts to disrupt the election<\/a>\u00a0that is now less than three months away.<\/p>\n Google\u2019s report said its threat researchers detected and disrupted a \u201csmall but steady cadence\u201d of the Iranian attackers using email credential phishing, a type of cyberattack where the attacker poses as a trusted sender to try to get an email recipient to share their login details. John Hultquist, chief analyst for the company\u2019s threat intelligence arm, said the company sends suspected targets of these attacks a Gmail popup that warns them that a government-backed attacker might be trying to steal their password.<\/p>\n The report said Google observed the group gaining access to one high-profile political consultant\u2019s personal Gmail account. Google reported the incident to the FBI in July. Microsoft\u2019s Friday report had shared similar information, noting that the email account of a former senior adviser to a presidential campaign had been compromised and weaponized to send a phishing email to a high-ranking campaign official.<\/p>\n The group is familiar to Google\u2019s threat intelligence arm and other researchers, and this isn\u2019t the first time it has tried to interfere in U.S. elections, Hultquist said. The report noted that the same Iranian group targeted both the Biden and Trump campaigns with phishing attacks during the 2020 cycle, as early as June of that year.<\/p>\n The group also has been prolific in other cyber espionage activity, particularly in the Middle East, the report said. In recent months, as the Israel-Hamas War has aggravated tensions in the region, that activity has included email phishing campaigns targeted at Israeli diplomats, academics, non-governmental organizations and military affiliates.<\/p>\n Trump\u2019s campaign said Saturday that it\u00a0had been hacked<\/a>\u00a0and that sensitive internal documents were stolen and distributed. It declared that Iranian actors were to blame.<\/p>\n The same day, Politico revealed it had received\u00a0leaked internal Trump campaign documents<\/a>\u00a0by email, though it wasn\u2019t clear whether the leaked documents were related to the suspected Iranian cyber activity. The Washington Post and The New York Times also received the documents.<\/p>\n While the Trump campaign hasn\u2019t provided specific evidence linking Iran to the hack, both Trump and his longtime friend and former adviser Roger Stone have said they were contacted by Microsoft related to suspected cyber intrusions. Stone\u2019s email was compromised by hackers targeting Trump\u2019s campaign, a person familiar with the matter said.<\/p>\n Google and Microsoft wouldn\u2019t identify the people targeted in the Iranian intrusion attempts or confirm that Stone was among them. Google did confirm that the Iranian group in its report, which it calls APT42, is the same as the one in Microsoft\u2019s research. Microsoft refers to the group as Mint Sandstorm.<\/p>\n Harris\u2019 campaign has declined to say whether it has identified any state-based intrusion attempts, but has said it vigilantly monitors cyber threats and isn\u2019t aware of any security breaches of its systems.<\/p>\n The FBI on Monday confirmed that it\u2019s investigating the intrusion of the Trump campaign. Two people familiar with the matter said the FBI also is investigating attempts to gain access to the Biden-Harris campaign.<\/p>\n The reports of Iranian hacking come as U.S. intelligence officials\u00a0have warned<\/a>\u00a0of persistent and mounting efforts from both Russia and Iran to influence the U.S. election through their online activity. Beyond<\/a> these hacking incidents, groups linked to the countries have used fake news websites and social media accounts to churn out content that appears intended to sway voters\u2019 opinions.<\/p>\n While neither Microsoft nor Google specified Iran\u2019s intentions in the U.S. presidential race, U.S. officials have previously hinted that Iran particularly opposes Trump. U.S. officials also have expressed alarm about Tehran\u2019s efforts to seek retaliation for a\u00a02020 strike on an Iranian general<\/a>\u00a0that was ordered by Trump.<\/p>\n Iran\u2019s mission to the United Nations, when asked about the claim of the Trump campaign, denied being involved.<\/p>\n \u201cWe do not accord any credence to such reports,\u201d the mission told The Associated Press. \u201cThe Iranian government neither possesses nor harbors any intent or motive to interfere in the United States presidential election.\u201d<\/p>\n The mission did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday about Google\u2019s report.<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n Associated Press writer Michael Weissenstein contributed to this report.<\/p>\n<\/div>\nRecommended Newsletter:<\/strong> The Fortune Next to Lead newsletter is a must-read for the next generation of C-suite leaders. Every Monday, the newsletter provides the strategies, resources, and expert insight needed to claim the most coveted positions in business. Subscribe now<\/a>.<\/div>\n