[Among those targeted by the most recent messages
are a serving minister,
a senior Labour MP,
a former Tory MP,
Labour staff members and political journalists,
according to Politico.
Spear phishing is a targeted cyber
attack on one or a select number of
victims to induce them to reveal
confidential information.
The salacious WhatsApp messages were
sent to both straight and gay men – under the aliases
of 'Abi' or 'Charlie' – with the sender
appearing to have detailed knowledge
of those they were approaching.
One of those targeted told the Mail he
was troubled because he has only a limited
online profile, yet the sender knew
'a lot' about him.
Messages seen by the Mail follow
a pattern in which the sender claims they met
the target either on a night out in Westminster
or at an event.
They then claim that they 'had a little flirt'
with the person before escalating to asking
if they are single and in multiple cases
sending sexual pictures.
It is feared the attacks are an attempt
by a hostile state to compromise
and blackmail senior political figures
directly or through their staff.
The messages - sent from two mobile phone numbers
between October last year and March this year - are
believed to have worked on at least one
of the victims, who reciprocated with a naked photo.
All the victims that the Mail spoke to were
alarmed by the depth of knowledge of those
targeting key Westminster figures.
The messages included details of appearances
by the figures at parliamentary bars
and political events.
Parliamentary authorities are under pressure
to investigate after a string of Westminster
figures including a serving minister were
sent flirtatious messages and
naked pictures image]
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-messages.html