DoJ charges Mabna Institute-linked Iranian hackers
Law Enforcement
Summary
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The U.S. Justice Department charged 17 Iranians tied to Mabna Institute, escalating a cross-border cybercrime case centered on long-running theft of data from American organizations. The action also included rewards of up to $10 million for information leading to five of the defendants, increasing pressure on fugitives linked to the operation.
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DoJ charges Mabna Institute members and State Department offers reward
Law Enforcement
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First: 20.08.2026 20:23
Last: 20.08.2026 20:23
Sources 1
About this happening:
U.S. Department of Justice charged 17 Mabna Institute members in a cyber intrusion case tied to Iran's IRGC, and the U.S. Department of State announced a $10...
DoJ charges Mabna Institute members and State Department offers reward
Law EnforcementAbout this happening: U.S. Department of Justice charged 17 Mabna Institute members in a cyber intrusion case tied to Iran's IRGC, and the U.S. Department of State announced a $10...
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First: 19.08.2026 18:56
Last: 19.08.2026 18:56
Sources 1
How related:
The DoJ's announcement says the operation is believed to have begun around 2013 and targeted the accounts of more than 100,000 professors worldwide, successfully compromising roughly 8,000 of them.
About this happening:
A Mabna Institute-linked campaign tied to the IRGC began around 2013 and targeted more than 100,000 professors worldwide, with about 8,000 accounts comprom...
Mabna Institute campaign expands across multiple victims
CampaignHow related: The DoJ's announcement says the operation is believed to have begun around 2013 and targeted the accounts of more than 100,000 professors worldwide, successfully compromising roughly 8,000 of them.
About this happening: A Mabna Institute-linked campaign tied to the IRGC began around 2013 and targeted more than 100,000 professors worldwide, with about 8,000 accounts comprom...
Latest development: 25.08.2026 12:10
The US imposed sanctions on five individuals linked to the Mabna Institute as part of Operation Economic Outcast, and OFAC published designations covering 30 crypto addresses across Bitcoin, Ethereum, and TRON tied to four defendants. TRM Labs said the traced addresses held about $16.8m dating back to 2018, with a large share linked to Keyvan Fayaz and additional funds associated with Behzad Mesri.
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Maksim Silnikau was sentenced to 16 years in prison in Alexandria, Virginia for creating and running Ransom Cartel, a ransomware-as-a-service operation he buil...
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Timeline
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19.08.2026 18:56 2 articles · 13d ago
DoJ charges Mabna Institute-linked Iranian hackers
Initial DisclosureThe U.S. Justice Department charged 17 Iranians tied to Mabna Institute and announced fugitive rewards, turning a long-running cybercrime investigation into a fresh cross-border prosecution step.
Show sources
- US charges Iranian hackers over $3.4 billion intellectual property theft — www.bleepingcomputer.com — 19.08.2026 18:56
- US charges Iranian hackers over $3.4 billion intellectual property theft — www.bleepingcomputer.com — 19.08.2026 18:56