US charges 17 Iranians over 'massive' cyber theft campaign

What the report says

The US Department of Justice has charged 17 Iranian nationals in what it describes as a long-running, state-backed cyber espionage campaign targeting American institutions and some overseas organisations. According to the BBC’s report, prosecutors say the group was linked to the Iran-based Mabna Institute and worked on behalf of the Iranian government, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, to steal data from universities, companies and government agencies.

The DOJ said the alleged operation began around 2013 and continued until at least late 2017. It involved attempts to access the systems of 144 US universities and 42 private-sector firms, as well as several foreign organisations. Authorities allege the hackers stole large volumes of academic data and intellectual property, and also compromised thousands of university email accounts around the world. The DOJ described the activity as part of a broader organised effort to target US and global institutions.

FBI and Justice Department officials said the case shows how cyber operations can pose risks to national security and the economy. The department also announced a reward for information leading to the location of five of the accused hackers who are still being sought. Nine of the 17 had already been charged in a previous indictment in 2018.

More broadly, the case fits into a pattern of US allegations that Iranian-linked groups have used cyber tools for intelligence gathering and economic gain. The individuals named in the charges are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.