The Navy is warning sailors to tighten their social media activity and avoid suspicious online contact as “adversary cyber actors” are trying to target military personnel during the war with Iran, according to an unclassified memo.
Navy Secretary John Phelan warned that hostile actors are using social media, messaging platforms, and dating apps to gather information and possibly exploit service members and their families.
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Officials said the activity includes phishing attempts and psychological operations aimed at influencing behavior or gaining access to sensitive data.
“In response to ongoing operations, adversary cyber actors are conducting a social engineering campaign actively targeting Department of the Navy personnel and their families,” the advisory pushed out April 17 said, urging sailors to avoid clicking unknown links and to limit personal information shared online.
Sailors were directed to remove any personal identifying information from their digital footprint, secure social media privacy settings, be mindful of or pause online posts, avoid public Wi-Fi, and take various other steps to ensure information is secure.
Additionally, the service members were instructed to enable two-factor authentication, make their passwords more complex, and instruct friends and family to limit what is posted about them.
The warning comes as cyber threats have intensified alongside the broader conflict between Iran and the United States. The war has expanded across multiple domains, including the internet, with both sides leveraging digital tools to disrupt operations and shape public perception.
Iran-linked hackers and affiliated groups have already targeted U.S. companies, including attempts to breach data systems and conduct disruptive attacks on critical sectors such as healthcare and energy, according to cybersecurity experts.
The Navy advisory also comes as diplomatic efforts between the U.S. and Iran appear to be faltering.
A two-week ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran is set to expire on Wednesday, and President Donald Trump has threatened further military action in Iran if a deal is not reached.
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Trump said Monday that he won’t “rush” into a deal with Iran. Tehran has signaled it will not participate in any new talks as U.S. forces continue the blockade on the Strait of Hormuz.
On Sunday, U.S. forces upholding the blockade seized an Iranian-flagged cargo ship. The vessel reportedly tried to breach the blockade after ignoring multiple warnings to stop.
