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FBI Warns: Iranian Hackers Target Dissidents via Telegram

3/24/2026

Summary

Story summary

An alert from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) warns Iranian hackers are using Telegram to steal data from dissidents and journalists.
They impersonate known contacts to lure victims into downloading malware granting remote access.
The FBI ties the attacks to Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) and Handala, which claimed a Stryker hack.
The U.S. Justice Department accuses Handala of acting as a front for the Iranian government.

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Story summary

An alert from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) warns Iranian hackers are using Telegram to steal data from dissidents and journalists.
They impersonate known contacts to lure victims into downloading malware granting remote access.
The FBI ties the attacks to Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) and Handala, which claimed a Stryker hack.
The U.S. Justice Department accuses Handala of acting as a front for the Iranian government.