The U.S. Department of Justice has unsealed a 14 count indictment against 17 Iranian nationals accused of being involved in a major cyber espionage campaign linked to the Iran based Mabna Institute.
U.S. prosecutors allege that the group hacked universities, companies, government agencies and other organisations in the U.S. and around the world.
Thousands of Accounts Targeted
- According to the Justice Department, the hackers targeted more than 100,000 professor accounts worldwide and successfully accessed around 8,000 academic email accounts.
- The targets included 144 U.S. universities and 178 universities outside the U.S.
- Prosecutors say the attackers stole more than 31 terabytes of research, academic information and intellectual property.
Alleged Iran Connection
- U.S. authorities allege that some of the cyberattacks were carried out for the benefit of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and other Iranian government and university clients.
- The alleged campaign operated from at least 2013 to 2017. The new charges expand an earlier U.S. case announced in 2018.
$10 Million Reward
The U.S. State Department has announced rewards of up to $10 million for information that could help locate several of the accused individuals.
Why It Matters
- The case highlights the growing threat of state linked cyberattacks targeting universities and research institutions.
- Universities hold valuable research and technology information, making them important targets for cyber espionage and intellectual property theft.
Important
The 17 individuals have been charged, not convicted. The allegations have not been proven in court and the defendants are presumed innocent unless found guilty.
