Science & Tech · Cybersecurity · 1 hr ago
Erin Molan says Iranian-linked hackers accessed her personal information
Australian commentator Erin Molan says hackers linked to Iran targeted her through an online meeting invitation.
She said the person who contacted her appeared legitimate and had appeared on CNN and other networks.
Molan clicked a meeting link that she says gave the hackers access to her information, but did not realise at the time that she may have been compromised.
ASIO told her she was one of three Australians targeted, alongside journalist Sharri Markson and former Victorian Liberal Party president Michael Kroger.
Molan is known for publicly criticising Iran’s government and supporting Israel.
She says she received a second suspected targeting attempt and does not yet know what the hackers accessed or whether they still have access.
Molan says she will continue speaking out, though she is concerned about the risks to her family.
Erin Molan says Iranian-linked hackers accessed her personal information after she clicked a link to an online meeting.
She said Australia’s security agency later told her the operation originated in Iran.
Molan said she had not realised her information might have been compromised until she saw an alert.
She said a second suspected attempt to target her occurred two days before she spoke.
Molan said the incident worried her, particularly because she has a young daughter, but she would continue speaking out.
- Who
- Erin Molan, an Australian commentator, says she was targeted. She said the attackers were linked to Iran.
- What
- Hackers allegedly gained access to her personal information through a link to an online meeting.
- When
- She said a second suspected attempt occurred two days before her statement.
- Where
- The operation was directed at Molan in Australia. The online meeting link was used to gain access.
- Why
- Molan said she was targeted because she criticises Iran’s regime and supports Israel.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
ASIO confirmed an Iranian cyber espionage unit had targeted journalist Sharri Markson and former Victorian Liberal Party president Michael Kroger.
She clicked a link to an online meeting after researching the person who contacted her.
Molan said authorities investigated the incident and confirmed it originated from Iran.
Molan said another person made what she described as an identical attempt to target her.
- People targeted in Australia
- Three, according to Molan
- Other people previously identified by ASIO
- Sharri Markson and Michael Kroger
- Suspected source
- Iran, according to Molan
- Second suspected attempt
- Tuesday, two days before her statement
- Molan’s age
- 43
What people are saying
I clicked on that link, which then gave the regime access to basically everything,
I've just had confirmation that it did come out of Iran, so it was a spy working for the regime,
In terms of what they've accessed, what they can see, whether they're still there, I don't know any of that as yet.
People need to wake up and realise who they are and what they are willing to do to get their way,