17 Iranians Charged in Major Cyber Theft Campaign Targeting U.S. Institutions

On August 18, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice unsealed a superseding indictment against 17 individuals associated with the Mabna Institute, an Iran-based firm. The indictment alleges a coordinated cyber theft campaign that targeted 144 U.S. universities, 42 private sector companies, and five federal and state agencies since 2013. The hackers reportedly stole over 31 terabytes of academic data and intellectual property, often on behalf of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). This operation involved breaching approximately 8,000 email accounts of professors and accessing sensitive information from various sectors. The indictment expands upon a previous case from 2018, which charged nine of the defendants. The U.S. State Department has offered a $10 million reward for information leading to the capture of some of the accused. The ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict adds a geopolitical dimension to these cyber operations.

Key Points: • 17 Iranians charged for hacking U.S. universities and government agencies. • Over 31 terabytes of data stolen, impacting 144 universities and 42 companies. • U.S. offers $10 million reward for information on the accused hackers.