Reported by 3 outlets

Timeline

1. original reporting

   US Charges 17 Iranian Hackers, Offers $10 Million Rewards for 5 of Them

   securityweek.com · 55d ago · August 19th, 2026

2. update from malware.news

   DOJ secures indictment of 17 Iranians accused of ‘massive’ cyber theft campaign

   malware.news · 55d ago · August 19th, 2026

   Max Rego reports: The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday unsealed an indictment charging 17 Iranian nationals with targeting American and foreign institutions via a cyber theft campaign on behalf of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The 14-count indictment charges 17 members of the Mabna Institute, an Iran-based company that has allegedly conducted a… Source Article Link: https://databreaches.net/2026/08/19/doj-secures-indictment-of-17-iranians-accused-of-massive-cyber-theft-campaign/

3. update from bleepingcomputer.com

   US charges Iranian hackers over $3.4 billion intellectual property theft

   bleepingcomputer.com · 55d ago · August 19th, 2026

   has charged 17 Iranians, alleged members of a hacking-for-hire company called Mabna Institute, involved in years-long operations that stole data from American organizations. Nine of the defendants were previously charged in a March 2018 indictment for hacking more than 300 universities and private companies. Justice Department (DoJ) has also announced rewards of up to $10 million for information leading to the location of five of the 17 Iranian defendants. According to the U.S. government, the newly charged eight individuals stole academic research, intellectual property, emails, and other proprietary information. Saeid Houshyar Behzad Mesri, aka “Skote Vahshat” Manouchehr Hashemloo Keyvan Fayaz, aka “Achilles,” “The Joker,” and “bc.monster” Amir Barati Saber Shahbazi Ballojeh Arman Kahzadian Mojtaba Galekuhi, aka “Mojtaba Ghaleh Koui” “Today’s charges, which include eight additional defendants, reveal the broader network allegedly behind a sweeping, state-sponsored campaign to steal research and intellectual property from American universities, businesses, and government institutions,” stated U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald . “More than eight years after making the original indictment public, these charges make clear that the passage of tim

4. update from malware.news

   DOJ charges 17 Iranians in cybertheft campaign

   malware.news · 55d ago · August 19th, 2026

   Federal prosecutors have charged 17 Iranians affiliated with the Tehran-based Mabna Institute over an alleged hacking-for-hire operation that stole research and intellectual property from hundreds of universities and compromised email accounts belonging to U.S. government agencies and companies. The Mabna Institute targeted systems belonging to 144 U.S. universities, 178 universities abroad, at least 42 U.S. companies, 11 foreign companies and at least five federal and state government agencies since around 2013, according to the Justice Department. The victims included the Labor Department, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the states of Hawaii and Indiana, the