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

The pro-Israel hacktivist group Predatory Sparrow (also known as Gonjeshke Darande) claimed responsibility for a cyberattack that allegedly targeted and disrupted Iran’s Bank Sepah. The group stated on social media platform X that they destroyed data belonging to Bank Sepah, which they accuse of helping the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) circumvent international sanctions and finance Iran’s ballistic missile, nuclear, and proxy activities. Reports from Iran International indicated widespread banking disruptions, including branch closures and customers being unable to access accounts, with images circulating of ATMs displaying error messages. However, TechCrunch was unable to independently verify the attack, and Bank Sepah and its affiliates did not respond to requests for comment. This alleged cyberattack occurs amid escalating hostilities between Israel and Iran, following Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites. Predatory Sparrow is believed to be a pro-Israel or anti-Iran hacktivist group with a history of targeting Iranian infrastructure, including steel plants