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Mabna Institute

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Treasury sanctions alleged Iranian hackers as part of ‘economic D

US Treasury sanctioned four Iranians linked to MOIS-directed hacks that compromised and exfiltrated data from US critical infrastructure, energy, defense, and financial targets.

The Treasury Department designated four Iranian individuals over alleged hacking and cybertheft against US companies in energy, defense, healthcare, IT, and financial sectors since at least late 2023, as part of an 'economic D-Day' sanctions package. It is the second action in weeks against the group, following an indictment of cybercriminals affiliated with Tehran's Mabna Institute; leadership includes Behzad Mesri, first sanctioned in 2018, and the attacks are described as directed by the Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS). Treasury also expanded secondary-sanction categories across digital assets, technology, gold, aviation, and shipping, and noted some group members pursued personal enrichment, including targeting Iranian companies.

CyberScoop · 21d agoPolicy & legal

Eight years later, federal authorities re-up charges against alleged Iranian hackers at Mabna Institute

US prosecutors unsealed a superseding indictment charging 17 Iranians in the Mabna Institute's state-sponsored theft of 31.5 terabytes from universities and companies.

The superseding indictment unsealed in the Southern District of New York charges 17 people affiliated with Tehran's Mabna Institute, adding eight defendants to the 2018 indictment of nine. The institute allegedly compromised over 100,000 professor email accounts worldwide, including 8,000 accounts at 144 US universities, and stole at least 31.5 terabytes of academic journals, dissertations, and e-books. US universities spent approximately $3.4 billion procuring the stolen data, and victims also included at least five federal and state agencies, 42 US companies, and 11 foreign companies including HBO. The State Department's Rewards for Justice program is offering up to $10 million for information on four of the defendants.

CyberScoop · 28d agoPolicy & legal