Brinztech Alert: Telegram Data of Iran are on Sale

Dark Web News Analysis

A threat actor on a known cybercrime forum is claiming to sell a database that they allege contains the user data of Iranian citizens on the Telegram messaging app. According to the seller’s post, the data leak is from the year 2025, a detail that suggests the information is claimed to be very recent.

This claim, if true, represents a significant data breach with serious privacy and security implications for a large number of Iranian citizens. Telegram is a primary communication and information-sharing tool in Iran. A database of its users would be an invaluable asset for a wide range of malicious actors, from criminals planning phishing campaigns to state actors seeking to conduct surveillance and suppress dissent. The “2025” date, while unusual, is likely a tactic to market the data as fresh and highly valuable for immediate exploitation.  

Key Cybersecurity Insights

This alleged data breach presents a critical and widespread threat to Iranian Telegram users:

• A Tool for Mass Surveillance and Social Control: The most severe risk is the potential use of this data for surveillance. A database of a country’s Telegram users could be a powerful tool for state security services or other actors seeking to monitor, identify, and target activists, journalists, or ordinary citizens.
• High Risk of Targeted Phishing and Scams: The user data, which would likely include phone numbers and usernames, will be used to launch highly convincing and localized phishing campaigns in Persian. Scammers can impersonate other users or official-looking channels to steal cryptocurrency, personal credentials, or spread malware.  
• “Freshness” Claim Increases Urgency: The seller’s claim that the data is from 2025 is a key marketing tactic. It’s meant to signal to other criminals that the data is extremely recent and therefore highly accurate and effective for scams, increasing the urgency for users to take protective measures.

Mitigation Strategies

In response to this threat, all Telegram users in Iran should be on high alert and take immediate steps to secure their accounts:

• Assume Your Information is Compromised: Every Telegram user in Iran should operate under the assumption that their phone number and association with the platform may be known to malicious actors. It is critical to treat all unsolicited messages, especially those creating a sense of urgency, with extreme suspicion.
• Enable All Available Privacy and Security Features: Users must be strongly urged to enable all of Telegram’s built-in security features. This includes setting a strong password for their account, enabling Two-Step Verification (a form of MFA), and carefully reviewing their privacy settings to control who can see their phone number and add them to groups.  
• Heighten Vigilance Against Phishing and Impersonation: Users must be on high alert for scams that may use their real name or phone number to seem legitimate. They should be reminded to never share login codes, passwords, or personal information with anyone on the platform, and to be wary of suspicious links.

Secure Your Organization with Brinztech As a cybersecurity provider, we can protect your business from the threats discussed here. Contact us to learn more about our services.

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