Trump Admin. Busts ‘Massive’ Iranian Hacking Network

What’s the story?

• The Justice Department on Friday charged and sanctioned nine Iranians and an Iranian company for "one of the largest state-sponsored hacking campaigns" ever prosecuted by the U.S.

• The cyberattacks targeted 144 American universities, dozens of U.S. companies and government agencies, and the United Nations.

Why does it matter?

• "Iran is engaged in an ongoing campaign of malicious cyber activity against the United States and our allies," said Sigal Mandelker, the Treasury Department’s undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence. “We will not tolerate the theft of U.S. intellectual property, or intrusion into our research institutions and universities.”

• Besides the nine individuals, the DOJ placed sanctions on the Tehran-based Mabna Institute. Geoffrey Berman, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District, said that "while the company’s name may sound legitimate, the so-called institute was set up for one reason only: To steal scientific resources from other countries around the world."

• Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein noted the importance of this case in disrupting and dissuading similar cyberattacks:

"In this time of public identification, it helps to deter state-sponsored computer intrusions by stripping hackers of their anonymity and by imposing real consequences."

What do you think?

Should these charges affect the Iran nuclear treaty? Is the U.S. doing enough to thwart cyberattacks? Will the sanctions have the intended consequences? Hit Take Action and tell your reps, then share your thoughts below.

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—Josh Herman

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