US calls reported threats by pro-Iran hackers to release Trump-tied material a ‘smear campaign’

WASHINGTON AP Pro-Iran hackers have threatened to release emails supposedly stolen from people connected to President Donald Trump according to a news statement a move that federal government call a calculated smear campaign The United States has warned of continued Iranian cyberattacks following American strikes on Iran s nuclear facilities and the threats those could pose to services economic systems and companies The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Guard Agency reported late Monday that the threat to expose emails about Trump is nothing more than digital propaganda meant to damage Trump and other federal officers A hostile foreign adversary is threatening to illegally exploit purportedly stolen and unverified material in an effort to distract discredit and divide CISA spokeswoman Marci McCarthy wrote in a social media post linking to a analysis from Reuters about the threat These criminals will be located and they will be brought to justice Reuters announced that it contacted the alleged hackers online They reported the news organization that it held a large cache of emails from Trump chief of staff Susie Wiles other top advisers and porn actor Stormy Daniels to whom a hush money payment led to Trump s criminal conviction Federal prosecutors charged three Iranians last year on assertions of hacking into Trump s presidential campaign Hackers also targeted the campaign of Democrats Joe Biden and Kamala Harris and unsuccessfully tried to leak material supposedly taken from Trump to Democrats and members of the media The threat to release more hacked emails was revealed the same day that CISA the FBI and National Protection Agency issued a general bulletin warning that hacking groups supportive of Tehran may attack U S interests despite a fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel The hackers personnel warned could seek to disrupt or disable critical infrastructure systems such as utilities transportation and economic hubs They also could target defense contractors or other American companies with ties to Israel the agencies disclosed The bulletin outlined recommendations including the use of regular solution updates and strong password management systems to shore up digital defenses Hackers backing Tehran have targeted U S banks defense contractors and power companies following American strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities but so far have not caused widespread disruptions Source