The U.S. Department of Justice expands its prosecution of the Iranian hacker group "Mabuna Institute", with the number of defendants increased to 17

(Central News Agency, New York, comprehensive foreign news reports on the 18th) The U.S. Department of Justice expanded its prosecution of the Iranian hacker group "Mabuna Institute" today, and the number of defendants increased to 17. This group is suspected of targeting hundreds of universities and institutions to steal large amounts of data. The Department of Justice has offered a reward of US$10 million for the arrest of five main suspects.

Agence France-Presse reported that the United States today expanded its prosecution of the Iranian hacker group "Mabna Institute" (Mabna Institute), and the number of suspects increased to 17. The hackers are accused of launching cyber attacks on universities, businesses and government agencies.

The Ministry of Justice pointed out in a new indictment that eight new suspects were added to this case, and nine of the 17 defendants were indicted in 2018.

Prosecutors are currently offering a $10 million reward for information leading to the prosecution of five of them: Behzad Mesri, Mojtaba Galekuhi, Arman Kahzadian, Keyvan Fayaz and Saber Shahbazi Ballojeh.

Prosecutors said the individuals were all related to the Iran-based Mabuna Institute, a group that allegedly carried out hacking missions on behalf of the Iranian government and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

These tasks were concentrated between 2013 and 2017, with the main goal being to steal scientific data and intellectual property. After the case was expanded, it was now found that 144 American universities and 178 foreign universities were hacked. In addition, at least 42 U.S. companies, 11 foreign companies, 5 U.S. government agencies, and 2 non-governmental organizations were affected.

The Justice Department said hackers allegedly targeted more than 100,000 professor accounts and stole approximately 31.5 terabytes (TB) of data, including scientific papers, theses and other research results.

Jamie McDonald, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, said: "More than eight years after the original indictment was made public, this new charge makes it clear that the passage of time will never prevent us from pursuing and prosecuting those who attack the United States from abroad."