Erin Molan says she was unknowingly caught up in an advanced Iranian cyber-espionage campaign, learning only that her personal data may have been compromised after Australia’s leading intelligence agency contacted her.
The 43-year-old broadcaster said ASIO director-general Mike Burgess told her she was one of three Australians allegedly targeted by operatives connected to Iran.
In a video posted to her YouTube program, The Erin Molan Show, on Thursday, Molan described how the suspected operation began with a seemingly genuine invitation.
‘Someone contacted me pretending to represent a think tank in the United States,’ she said.
‘The person was real and actually existed.’
‘They spoke about my father and my work, praised me for speaking out and standing up for what I believe is right, and then asked to arrange an online meeting.’
Molan said professional commitments and travel initially prevented her from taking part, but she eventually agreed after the individual repeatedly followed up.
She also carried out her own checks and believed the person was legitimate. ‘I searched for her and she appeared to be genuine. She had been on CNN and other television networks,’ Molan said.
However, after clicking the link sent for the meeting, she was confronted by an unusual screen and could neither see nor hear anyone on the other end.
Erin Molan (pictured) said authorities later linked a cyberattack against her to Iran
Molan has frequently criticised Iran’s regime and is a strong supporter of Israel
‘By clicking the link, I effectively gave the regime access to almost everything,’ Molan alleged.
‘At the time, I genuinely had no idea what had happened.’
She said concerns were raised only after she learned that other Australians had reportedly experienced similar targeting.
In October, ASIO confirmed that an Iranian cyber-espionage group had targeted News24 presenter and journalist Sharri Markson, as well as former Victorian Liberal Party president Michael Kroger.
DISCOVER MORE: One Dead, Several Injured and Others Trapped After Three-Story Brooklyn Building Collapses
‘That makes me one of three people in Australia who have been targeted,’ Molan said.
‘When I read the account from one of the others, I suddenly thought, “Hang on”. I went back and found an alert saying my information had been stolen, but I had never noticed it.’
The former News24 host said Australian authorities examined the incident and later told her the attack had been traced to Iran.
‘I have now received confirmation that it came from Iran, meaning it was a spy working for the regime,’ she said.
Mike Burgess (pictured) said Sharri Markson and Michael Kroger had also been targeted
Molan added that she believed another attempt to compromise her accounts had taken place on Tuesday.
‘Two days ago, the exact same thing happened again. Someone else tried to do it,’ she said.
‘I still do not know exactly what they accessed, what they may be able to see or whether they remain inside the system.’
The incident prompted Molan to issue a warning about the reach of the Iranian regime, saying it was prepared to pursue outspoken critics even when they lived far beyond Iran’s borders.
‘People need to understand who they are and the lengths they are prepared to go to in order to achieve their objectives,’ she said.
Although Molan said she would not stop speaking publicly, she acknowledged that the alleged cyberattack had made her more anxious about the safety of her family.
‘I have a young daughter,’ she said.
‘I continue to believe that my work may ultimately help make the world safer for her, but I would be lying if I said this situation was not frightening.’
Molan previously worked as a sports reporter for Channel Nine and appeared on The Footy Show before becoming a prominent pro-Israel commentator.
