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Western agencies alert on Iranian spyware targeting overseas dissidents

Intelligence services have identified a sophisticated surveillance tool allegedly deployed by Iran to monitor critics and opposition figures living abroad. The malware, codenamed CHOSEN BRICK, represents an escalating cyber threat to diaspora communities.

LSN World News · 15 September 2026

Western agencies alert on Iranian spyware targeting overseas dissidents

Western intelligence agencies have issued a joint warning about a previously undocumented spyware campaign targeting Iranian dissidents and government critics outside the country's borders. The malicious software, tracked as CHOSEN BRICK, has been attributed to Iranian state-sponsored threat actors seeking to monitor opposition figures in exile.

The spyware represents part of a broader pattern of cyber espionage operations conducted by Iranian intelligence services against diaspora populations. Researchers indicate the tool is capable of harvesting sensitive communications, tracking location data, and accessing personal files on compromised devices.

Intelligence officials have advised at-risk populations, including journalists, activists, and political opposition members, to implement enhanced cybersecurity measures. Recommended protections include using updated security software, enabling multi-factor authentication, and exercising caution with suspicious email attachments and download links.

The disclosure follows multiple documented cases of Iranian cyber operations targeting dissidents abroad over the past several years. Security analysts note that such campaigns have become increasingly sophisticated, employing social engineering tactics and zero-day vulnerabilities to penetrate target networks.