With less than three months before the U.S. election, Iran is intensifying its efforts to meddle in American politics, according to U.S. officials and private cybersecurity firms. The suspected hack of Donald Trump’s campaign is just one example of Iran’s brazen actions.

Iran has a long history of cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns. In recent months, groups linked to the Iranian government have encouraged protests over Israel’s war in Gaza, impersonated American activists, and created networks of fake news websites and social media accounts to spread false information in the U.S.

While Russia and China are bigger cyber threats, experts believe Iran’s aggressive stance poses a significant escalation in efforts to influence American voters ahead of the election.

As the election nears, America’s adversaries are leveraging the internet and advancements in artificial intelligence to sow discord. Experts predict an increase in aggressive tactics as the election date approaches.

The FBI is investigating the suspected hack of the Trump campaign, attributing it to Iran. This was in line with a recent Microsoft report revealing an attempt by Iranian military intelligence to hack into the systems of a presidential campaign.

Iran has denied any involvement in the hack, but U.S. intelligence officials and cybersecurity firms dispute this, linking Iran’s government and military to recent campaigns targeting the U.S.

Iran’s motives in influencing U.S. elections include spreading confusion, polarizing the nation, undermining support for Israel, and hindering candidates that could escalate tensions between the U.S. and Iran.

The final weeks leading up to an election are crucial for foreign efforts to impact voting. False information can have a significant impact during this time, leading to distrust in the voting process.

Hack-and-leak attacks, such as the one on Trump’s campaign, can expose sensitive information and raise questions about cybersecurity. Such attacks can undermine trust in the election process.

The alleged hack of the Trump campaign highlights the ongoing threat posed by foreign adversaries. Despite efforts to minimize vulnerabilities, the risk of cyberattacks remains.