Justice Department says Iran-based Mabna Institute targeted universities, companies and government agencies in coordinated hacking operations

WASHINGTON: US authorities have charged 17 Iranians for allegedly participating in a years-long cyber campaign that targeted American universities, businesses and government agencies to steal academic research and intellectual property.

The US Department of Justice said members of the Iran-based Mabna Institute targeted computer systems belonging to 144 American universities and at least 42 private-sector companies.

According to prosecutors, the alleged operation began around 2013 and continued until at least December 2017.

The hackers allegedly stole more than 31 terabytes of academic information and intellectual property valued at approximately $3.4 billion.

Thousands of Academic Accounts Allegedly Compromised

Furthermore, authorities accused Mabna of targeting around 100,000 academics worldwide.

The campaign successfully compromised approximately 8,000 professors’ email accounts at 144 US universities and another 178 academic institutions outside the United States, according to the Justice Department.

Investigators also alleged that the hackers targeted employee accounts at at least five US federal and state government agencies.

Additionally, the operation reportedly targeted 42 American companies and 11 foreign businesses based in Britain, Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Sweden.

The Justice Department alleged that many operations benefited Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, alongside other Iranian government and academic clients.

US Offers $10 Million Reward

Meanwhile, the US government announced a reward of up to $10 million for information leading authorities to five of the alleged hackers-for-hire named in the case.

FBI official James C. Barnacle Jr described the alleged campaign as a serious national security threat and said it reflected a broader organised effort targeting American institutions and international partners.

Prosecutors said the Mabna Institute was established in 2013 to help Iranian academic organisations obtain unauthorised access to foreign scientific resources.

Nine of the 17 defendants charged in the latest case had previously faced charges under a seven-count federal indictment filed in March 2018.