U.S. Justice Dept. shuts down four Iranian cyber psych operations

The U.S. Department of Justice announced it had shut down four Iran-backed “psychological operations” used for cyber-hacking and intimidation abroad. 

According to a press statement, the sites were used by Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security to spread propaganda, publish the stolen personal data of critics, support and claim credit for cyberattacks, and in some cases to threaten violence.

The statement said the sites were used for what are now called “faketivist” campaigns, posing as independent hactivists while actually promoting Iranian state interests. In some case, operations claimed responsibility for a cyberattack on a U.S.-based medical technology company earlier this month. 

The “faketivist” campaigns represent a new front in the expanding Israeli- and U.S.-led combat operations against Iran. 

The shut-down sites are JusticeHomeland.org, Handala-hack.to, KarmaBelow80.org, and Handala-RedWanted.to. All four now carry warnings that they have been seized by the Department of Justice and the FBI.