Security News > 2020 > September > U.S. Imposes Sanctions on 'APT39' Iranian Hackers
The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control on Thursday announced sanctions against Iran-based cyber threat actor APT39, associated individuals, and a front company named Rana Intelligence Computing Company.
Last year, a series of documents supposedly leaked from the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security revealed information on the activities of Rana, which was tracking individuals both in Iran and outside the country, and on its members.
"Rana advances Iranian national security objectives and the strategic goals of [MOIS] by conducting computer intrusions and malware campaigns against perceived adversaries, including foreign governments and other individuals the MOIS considers a threat," the Treasury Department says.
Hidden behind Rana, the MOIS helped the Iranian government run abuse and surveillance operations against its own citizen.
APT39, operating through Rana, leveraged malware for the hacking and monitoring of Iranian citizens, including dissidents, environmentalists, former government employees, journalists, refugees, university students and faculty, and the employees of international organizations.