Tehran’s $4.5 bln VPN crisis; spyware plagues millions of Iranian phones: Intelligence Report
Even if Tehran were to lift internet restrictions today, the report concludes, it would take years to eliminate the embedded spyware from millions of Iranian mobile devices, many of which are now considered fully compromised as Iranians spend $4.5 billion on VPNs to dodge censorship.
According to Iran’s Cyber Communications Board the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence has submitted a sensitive report to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, highlighting grave national security concerns related to the widespread use of VPNs and foreign anti-censorship software.
Despite strict bans on major social media and telecommunications platforms, millions of Iranians are circumventing these restrictions through VPNs, according to news reports.
The collectively spending over $4.5 billion annually. The report claims that many of these VPNs are allegedly developed by Israeli and American intelligence agencies, and serve as tools to spy on Iranian users. These tools allow foreign entities to covertly access mobile phones, turning them into surveillance and tracking devices using artificial intelligence capable of recognizing voices and physical movements.
According to the report, Mossad has used such spyware to assassinate high-profile Iranian figures by tracking them through their own phones or those of people close to them. Iranian authorities estimate that there are currently around 75 million active VPN programs on phones across the country. These include both paid and free versions, with some allegedly provided by foreign intelligence for surveillance purposes.
The Iranian government has invested heavily in developing local social media alternatives, but public distrust, heavy censorship, and fear of reprisal have stifled their adoption. Users posting controversial content face penalties such as fines, deletion of posts, or closure of accounts.
Crucially, the report suggests that some high-ranking officials may be resisting the lifting of bans on foreign platforms to protect financial interests tied to the lucrative sale of censorship-bypassing tools.
Even if Tehran were to lift internet restrictions today, the report concludes, it would take years to eliminate the embedded spyware from millions of Iranian mobile devices, many of which are now considered fully compromised.
