Brookings Institution is a prominent Washington, D.C.-based think tank that conducts policy research across international affairs, economics, and governance.
Brookings Institution is a prominent Washington, D.C.-based think tank that conducts policy research across international affairs, economics, and governance. In cybersecurity terms, it represents a high-value target due to its access to influential researchers and policy discussions; recent Iranian APT activity highlights the risk that think tanks and policy groups are targeted through credential-phishing to exfiltrate information and influence policymaking.
Between June and August 2025, a previously unidentified Iranian cyber actor, dubbed UNK_SmudgedSerpent, conducted targeted phishing attacks against US academics and foreign policy experts. The campaign aimed to steal…
Between June and August 2025, the Iranian-linked APT UNK_SmudgedSerpent conducted targeted phishing campaigns against US academics and foreign policy experts. The group employed techniques such as credential theft and…
Between June and August 2025, a cyber group identified as UNK_SmudgedSerpent targeted U.S. academics and foreign policy experts focused on Iran. The attackers initiated contact through seemingly benign conversations to…