- U.S. prosecutors charged 17 alleged members of the Iran-based Mabna Institute for a years-long Hacking campaign targeting universities, companies, and government agencies.
- Six defendants were directly involved in the 2017 HBO hack, which included an attempt to extort the company for roughly $6 million in Bitcoin.
- The group allegedly stole at least 31.5 terabytes of academic data and intellectual property from hundreds of institutions worldwide.
The Justice Department charged 17 alleged Iranian Hackers Tuesday for a years-long cyber campaign that included the 2017 breach of HBO and an attempt to extort the entertainment giant for roughly $6 million in Bitcoin. The defendants were members of the Iran-based Mabna Institute, which prosecutors said carried out hacks on behalf of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and other Iranian government clients.
The group targeted hundreds of universities, companies, and government agencies worldwide, stealing at least 31.5 terabytes of data. The hackers used spearphishing and stolen credentials to access research, academic journals, and intellectual property.
“The superseding indictment alleges that, at the behest of entities including the IRGC, these defendants hacked into universities and other research institutions worldwide, including the United States, stealing at least 31 terabytes of information and intellectual property of untold value,” Assistant Attorney General John A. Eisenberg said.
The Mabna Institute compromised roughly 8,000 accounts across 144 U.S. universities and 178 foreign universities, according to prosecutors. Meanwhile, tensions between Washington and Tehran have escalated as the U.S. has stepped up efforts to disrupt crypto networks tied to Iran.
In June, the Treasury sanctioned four Iranian crypto exchanges, including Nobitex, accusing them of facilitating terrorist financing and sanctions evasion. In July, Treasury froze more than $131 million across four crypto wallets linked to Iran’s central bank and armed forces.
The State Department is now offering rewards of up to $10 million for information leading to the location of five defendants. “More than eight years after making the original indictment public, these charges make clear that the passage of time will not deter us from identifying and pursuing those who target the United States from abroad,” U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald said.
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