FBI Says Iranian Hackers Are Using Telegram To Steal Data In Malware Attacks
Iranian government hackers are using Telegram bots to steal data from journalists and dissidents worldwide. Here's what the FBI just revealed.
Matilda
FBI Says Iranian Hackers Are Using Telegram To Steal Data In Malware Attacks
Iranian Hackers Are Using Telegram to Spy on You — And the FBI Just Sounded the Alarm If you use Telegram, WhatsApp, or Zoom, a new FBI warning issued on March 21, 2026 is one you cannot afford to ignore. Iranian government-backed hackers are actively using Telegram — the very app trusted by millions for private communication — as a covert weapon to steal data from journalists, dissidents, and opposition groups around the world. The threat is real, it is ongoing, and it is more sophisticated than most people realize. How the Attack Begins: A Message From a "Trusted" Contact The first thing to understand about this cyberattack campaign is how cleverly it is designed to bypass your instincts. The attack does not begin with an obvious phishing email or a suspicious stranger. It begins with someone you think you already know. According to the FBI alert, hackers make initial contact by impersonating a known contact or a tech support representative. The target receives what appears to…
