Iranian hackers attempted to disrupt the 2024 summer Olympic Games by targeting the scoreboard in order to display anti-Israeli messages. A warning issued jointly by the FBI, the US Department of Treasury, and the National Cybersecurity Directorate of Israel revealed that the operation was linked to the Iranian group Emennet Pasargad, previously known for targeting Israel and attempting to interfere in the 2020 US elections.
Emennet Pasargad operates through Aria Sepehr Ayandehsazan (ASA), also known as Cotton Sandstorm and Haywire Kitten. Since 2023, ASA has adopted new tactics, such as utilizing fake hosting providers for their server infrastructure and employing AI to generate false images and news materials.
In July 2024, the group launched an attack on a French supplier responsible for the Olympic scoreboard displays, aiming to showcase images condemning the participation of Israeli athletes. This attack was accompanied by a misinformation campaign that included the circulation of a fabricated article on a French media outlet and sending threats to Israeli athletes and their associates, posing as a fictitious French ultra-right group.
Analysis conducted by the FBI and Microsoft indicates that Emennet Pasargad also has plans to target election websites and media platforms to manipulate public opinion. Over the years, the group has carried out numerous attacks on organizations in Israel, Sweden, and the USA, utilizing both technical and psychological methods of influence.