Washington: Microsoft has published a report on its blog about Iran's hacking group's eye on websites and media outlets related to the US presidential election. This report points to the efforts of Iranian and Chinese hackers to directly influence the preparations for the election. In May too, they had investigated many American news outlets to find their flaws.

Microsoft has named these hackers as Cotton Sandstorm. They are associated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard. They also infiltrated election related websites in important swing states for the US election by spying on them. However, the US National Intelligence Director's Office has not given an immediate reaction to this. This agency also works to protect elections from foreign influence.

Iran denies hacking attempts

At the same time, Iran's mission to the United Nations in its comments has denied any involvement or hacking attempts in the 2024 US elections. Cotton Sandstorm had also carried out a cyber operation before the last US presidential election. At that time, citizens of Florida state were threatened by sending thousands of emails in the name of the right-wing Proud Boys. This group also released a video on internet media.

However, according to a senior US official, the election process was never affected. This was done only with the aim of spreading doubt and confusion. Chinese hackers defaming lawmakers The Microsoft report also revealed that a large number of Chinese social media bot operators are trying to influence voters in Alabama, Tennessee and Texas during the US presidential election, as well as defame Florida's US Senator Marco Rubio.

These fake accounts are trying to defame US lawmakers Barry Moore from Alabama, Michael McCaul from Texas and Marsha Blackburn and Rubio from Tennessee. All of them are members of the Republican Party. The group involved in this is known as Taiji Flood and has previously been associated with China's Ministry of Public Security.

China will not interfere in the US elections- Chinese Embassy

All these MPs have been targeted because they have criticized Chinese policies in the past. However, in this regard, the spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in Washington said that China will neither interfere in the US elections nor does it have any intention to do so. All these claims are malicious speculations.