Iran has intensified its digital surveillance efforts targeting dissidents, activists, and journalists based in the United Kingdom, according to officials from Britain’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). The agency, part of the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ), uncovered the use of sophisticated spyware attributed to Tehran, deployed to monitor UK citizens critical of the Iranian regime.

The malicious software is distributed through deceptive techniques, tricking victims into installing it on their devices. Once active, the spyware enables attackers to access private communications, including emails, social media messages, and contact lists. It also permits surveillance of physical movements via location tracking and the ability to overhear conversations through device microphones.

Paul Chichester, director of operations at the NCSC, characterized the campaign as a “ruthless” effort by Iran to suppress dissent beyond its borders. He emphasized that the operation highlights the lengths to which the Iranian government will go to silence critics overseas.

In response to the threat, the NCSC has coordinated training programs aimed at equipping UK police forces nationwide with the tools necessary to identify and handle digital espionage tactics associated with state-sponsored cyber attacks. This initiative seeks to bolster domestic resilience against foreign intelligence operations targeting individuals in the UK.

Details regarding the scale of the surveillance campaign, including the number of individuals affected or specific incidents, have not been publicly disclosed. However, the NCSC’s findings underscore ongoing concerns about the reach of state-backed cyber espionage and the vulnerabilities faced by political activists and journalists living abroad.