Sweden authorities accused Iran of a cyberattack that sent thousands of text messages, calling for revenge over burnings of the Quran.

Karah Rucker Anchor

Sweden blames Iran for cyberattack after Quran burnings

Sep 25, 2024

Karah Rucker Anchor

By Karah Rucker (Anchor), Jodie Hawkins (Producer), Ian Kennedy (Editor)

Swedish authorities accused Iran of orchestrating a cyberattack that sent thousands of text messages calling for revenge over burnings of the Quran. Officials say the attack was carried out by Iran’s Paramilitary Revolutionary Guard in summer 2023.

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Authorities claimed the group took over passwords and usernames, before it sent at least 15,000 text messages. Some of the messages said, “Those who insulted the Quran must be punished for their work.”

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At the time, Sweden’s government condemned anti-Islam activists burning the Quran and police tried to ban them. However, they were allowed by the courts under freedom of expression laws.

The incidents caused Muslim-led protests in several countries.

In a statement, the Swedish Security Service said, “The purpose was, among other things, to paint the image of Sweden as an Islamophobic country and create division in society.”

Swedish officials identified the individual hackers who carried out the breach, but said they would not press charges because an extradition to Sweden was unlikely.

Iran’s embassy in Stockholm rejected the accusations, calling them “baseless” and “harmful.”

Tags: Cyber attack, cyber crimes, Cybersecurity, Hackers, Iran, Sweden

Karah Rucker

AUTHORITIES IN SWEDEN ARE ACCUSING IRAN OF ORCHESTRATING A CYBERATTACK THAT SENT THOUSANDS OF TEXT MESSAGES … CALLING FOR REVENGE OVER BURNINGS OF THE QURAN.

STOCKHOLM OFFICIALS SAY THE ATTACK WAS CARRIED OUT BY IRAN’S PARAMILITARY REVOLUTIONARY GUARD IN THE SUMMER OF 20-23.

THEY CLAIM THE GROUP TOOK OVER PASSWORDS AND USERNAMES, BEFORE SENDING AT LEAST 15-THOUSAND TEXT MESSAGES SAYING QUOTE “THOSE WHO INSULTED THE QURAN MUST BE PUNISHED FOR THEIR WORK.”

AT THE TIME, SWEDEN’S GOVERNMENT CONDEMNED ANTI-ISLAM ACTIVISTS BURNING THE QURAN AND POLICE TRIED TO BAN THEM.

HOWEVER, THEY WERE ALLOWED BY THE COURTS UNDER FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION LAWS.

THOSE INCIDENTS LED TO MUSLIM-LED PROTESTS IN SEVERAL COUNTRIES.

IN A STATEMENT, THE SWEDISH SECURITY SERVICE SAID OF THE ALLEGED CYBERATTACK … “THE PURPOSE WAS, AMONG OTHER THINGS, TO PAINT THE IMAGE OF SWEDEN AS AN ISLAMOPHOBIC COUNTRY AND CREATE DIVISION IN SOCIETY.”

SWEDISH OFFICIALS SAY THEY DID IDENTIFY THE INDIVIDUAL HACKERS WHO CARRIED OUT THE BREACH, BUT WOULD NOT PRESS CHARGES BECAUSE AN EXTRADITION TO SWEDEN WAS UNLIKELY.

IRAN’S EMBASSY IN STOCKHOLM IS REJECTING THE ACCUSATIONS, CALLING THEM BASELESS AND HARMFUL.

FOR SAN… I’M KARAH RUCKER.

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