Pro-Israel hacktivist group claims reponsibility for alleged Iranian bank hack

The pro-Israel hacktivist group Predatory Sparrow, also known by its Persian name Gonjeshke Darande, claimed responsibility for a cyberattack that allegedly targeted and disrupted Iran’s Bank Sepah. The group stated that their attack destroyed data belonging to Bank Sepah, which they accused of helping the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) circumvent international sanctions and finance Iran’s terrorist proxies, ballistic missile program, and military nuclear efforts. Following the claim, reports emerged of widespread banking disruptions in Iran, including closed Bank Sepah branches and customers being unable to access their accounts, with ATMs reportedly displaying error messages. However, independent verification of the cyberattack remains unavailable, and attempts to contact Bank Sepah and Predatory Sparrow for confirmation were unsuccessful. This alleged cyberattack occurs amid escalating hostilities between Israel and Iran, with both countries reportedly conducting strikes against each other’s military and nuclear infrastructure. While the exact identity of Predatory Sparrow remains unclear, cybersecurity experts consider the group credible based