DOJ Charges 17 Iranian Hackers in IRGC-Linked Campaign That Stole 31.5TB of Research Data
Brief
The U. S. Department of Justice has unsealed a 14-count superseding indictment against 17 alleged members of the Iran-based Mabna Institute, accusing them of conducting a long-running cyber espionage campaign that stole at least 31. 5TB of research data and intellectual property.
According to the indictment, the operation began around 2013 and continued through at least December 2017. Prosecutors allege that the group worked for Iranian government and university clients, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC.
The campaign allegedly targeted universities, private companies, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations in the United States and other countries.
Gholamreza Rafatnejad and Ehsan Mohammadi reportedly founded the Mabna Institute to provide Iranian institutions with access to foreign scientific resources.