Hacking Campaign Targets High-Profile Gmail and WhatsApp Users in the Middle East

A hacking campaign has targeted high-profile users of Gmail and WhatsApp in the Middle East, particularly Iranian activists and individuals involved in Iran-related activities. On January 18, 2026, British-Iranian activist Nariman Gharib shared screenshots of a phishing link received via WhatsApp, warning about suspicious links. The campaign aimed to compromise accounts by tricking victims into clicking on malicious links. No additional technical details or precise impact were mentioned in the article.