Without Breaking into the Phone: Suspicion - How Iran Located American Soldiers in the Middle East
Communication data and testimonies that reached the 'Financial Times' raise suspicion that factors linked to Iran exploited cellular networks and advertising databases to track American military personnel and contractors in the Middle East.
Assessment
The Financial Times has obtained data and testimonies suggesting that Iran-linked actors tracked American military personnel and contractors in the Middle East using cellular networks and advertising databases, without needing to hack phones. This method of surveillance raises concerns about the vulnerability of commercial data to state-backed intelligence gathering. The report relies on suspicion, not confirmed attribution, and further investigation may clarify the extent of the tracking.