UK, US and Netherlands issue advisory on Iran-linked spyware

The malware, according to the advisory, can collect information from contact lists, emails and social media accounts, capture screen content and access a device's microphone. The NCSC said some victims' personal details had later appeared on pro-Iranian leak sites. The FBI, in its own advisory, said Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) was using the malware to "collect intelligence, conduct data leaks, and inflict reputational harm against their intended targets."

The FBI declined to share additional details on how many people have been targeted with the malware, or where they're located.

The NCSC said the attackers often posed as trusted contacts on messaging apps and tailored their approach to individual targets. In some cases, it said, they used fake documents, including fabricated MRI test results, to persuade victims to download the malware.

The NCSC, alongside the FBI and the Netherlands' AIVD intelligence service, said Iran "almost certainly" uses cyber operations to help suppress people it sees as threats.