As the United States gears up for the upcoming presidential election in November, it is Iran, rather than Russia, that is proving to be the biggest nation-state threat to the electoral process, according to officials. The growing boldness and appetite of both Russia and Iran in their attacks on U.S. elections have raised concerns about potential chaos in the final stretch of the election.

In a recent report released by Google researchers on Wednesday, it was confirmed that Iran-backed hackers targeted both the Trump and Biden campaigns through a phishing attack. This development further underscores the escalating efforts of foreign adversaries to interfere in U.S. elections, particularly against the backdrop of a tense geopolitical environment.

Experts and analysts have noted that Iran's interest in targeting former President Donald Trump and the U.S. government has been on the rise since January 2020, when Iranian General Qasem Soleimani was killed in a U.S. airstrike. They also highlight that Iran seems to be adopting a playbook similar to the one Russia employed in 2016 for targeting a U.S. presidential campaign.

Iran, known for its loud and chaotic style of foreign interference, tends to intensify its activities during the final month of the U.S. election cycle. However, it is important to note that the recent leaked Trump campaign materials have not been published by any media outlets, and officials have not officially attributed them to Iran.

Furthermore, Microsoft reported on a spear-phishing attack targeting a high-ranking official from an unidentified U.S. presidential campaign in June. The incident, along with Microsoft's findings, highlights the increasing aggressiveness of Iranian groups engaging in disinformation and hacking campaigns to influence the outcome of the 2024 U.S. presidential elections.

The news of a reported cyberattack on the Trump campaign is just the beginning of what experts predict will be a hectic and unpredictable period in terms of cybersecurity leading up to November's election. The specter of foreign meddling in U.S. elections has loomed since the 2016 Russian-backed pilfering of Hillary Clinton's campaign emails, perpetuating mistrust in the political process.

Google's recent report has provided validation to the claims made by the Trump campaign regarding the Iranian hack, as it uncovered roughly a dozen individuals associated with both President Biden and former President Trump, including government officials and campaign affiliates, who have been targeted in a phishing attack.

As the election draws near, the need for heightened cybersecurity measures and vigilance to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process becomes increasingly critical. The focus now shifts to how authorities will respond to these threats and work towards ensuring a secure and fair election for all parties involved.