Security News > 2024 > March > U.S. charges Iranian for hacks on defense orgs, offers $10M for info
The U.S. Department of Justice has unveiled an indictment against Alireza Shafie Nasab, a 39-year-old Iranian national, for his role in a cyber-espionage campaign targeting U.S. government and defense entities.
The U.S. DoJ announcement says Nasab's job with Mahak Rayan Afraz was merely a front for the hacker's malicious operations.
"While purporting to work as a cybersecurity specialist for Iran-based clients, Mr. Nasab allegedly participated in a persistent campaign to compromise U.S. private sector and government computer systems," stated Matthew G. Olsen, DoJ's Assistant Attorney General.
"Alireza Shafie Nasab [allegedly] participated in a cyber campaign using spear phishing and other hacking techniques to infect more than 200,000 victim devices, many of which contained sensitive or classified defense information," added U.S. Attorney Damian Williams.
The Iranian hacker now faces charges relating to conspiracy to commit computer and wire fraud, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft, which incur between 5 and 20 years in prison, plus a mandatory two-year sentence for identity theft.
The U.S. Department of State's Rewards for Justice Program now offers up to $10 million for information leading to Nasab's identification or location.