A version of this story appeared in the daily Threat Status newsletter from The Washington Times. Click here to receive Threat Status delivered directly to your inbox each weekday.
An apparent hack targeted a key U.S. Space Force official’s Instagram account recently and reportedly posted pro-Iran and anti-American content.
In a Facebook post late Sunday, Chief Master Sgt. of the Space Force John F. Bentivegna addressed the incident.
“If you receive any direct messages, requests, links, or unusual posts from that account, please do not engage with them,” he wrote. “Experiences like this are a good reminder that cybersecurity isn’t just an issue for organizations, it’s something we all deal with in our daily lives.”
It’s unclear exactly how long the content was displayed on Chief Master Sgt. Bentivegna’s account. CNN reported that it viewed some of the Instagram posts, one of which included audio from “Hanoi Hannah,” an infamous Vietnam War propagandist, telling American soldiers to “leave a sinking ship.”
The posts were reportedly removed by early Monday morning.
Hacks or attempted hacks of prominent U.S. military and government officials have become key pieces of modern warfare, as adversaries attempt to use cyberoperations — an example of asymmetric warfare — to gain an advantage.
Iran-linked hackers have allegedly targeted officials across the government, up to and including President Trump. In late 2024, the Justice Department charged three hackers allegedly employed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps with hacking Mr. Trump’s presidential campaign.
The U.S. launched a military operation against Iran in late February. The two sides are still clashing despite agreeing to a ceasefire last month.
Chief Master Sgt. Bentivegna, the highest-ranking enlisted officer in the Space Force, has served in the military for more than 30 years.
Last December, he appeared on The Washington Times’ “Threat Status” podcast and spoke about how space has become a key battleground in the 21st century.
“Space has absolutely been identified, and we consider it a war fighting domain. The foundational purpose of the Space Force is to provide space superiority for the nation,” he said. “When you think about what’s on the ground, whether it be lasers or electronic warfare, trying to jam GPS, trying to jam satellite communications … our competitors and adversaries have been investing in how to negate this advantage that we have as a nation.”
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