CryptoSlate
US prosecutors added eight defendants to an eight-year-old case tied to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, bringing the 14-count indictment to 17 people linked to Mabna Institute. Six are accused in the 2017 HBO breach, where an alleged Bitcoin ransom demand rose from $5.5M to about $6M before stolen episodes and scripts were leaked. The Justice Department has not alleged that HBO paid the ransom.
The broader operation allegedly targeted more than 100,000 professor accounts, compromised about 8,000 and stole at least 31.5 TB of academic data and intellectual property. Prosecutors also allege attacks that caused more than $20M in investigation and remediation costs.
Rewards for Justice offered up to $10M for information leading to the location of five defendants. The superseding indictment folds the HBO episode into the wider Mabna prosecution rather than alleging a fresh breach.
Frequently asked questions
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What happened in the 2017 HBO breach?
Prosecutors allege hackers stole unreleased television episodes, scripts and other proprietary material, then raised the Bitcoin demand from $5.5M to roughly $6M before leaking the content online.
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How extensive was the alleged Mabna campaign beyond HBO?
The alleged operation targeted more than 100,000 professor accounts, compromised about 8,000 and stole at least 31.5 TB of academic data and intellectual property.
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What role is Mabna Institute alleged to have played?
Prosecutors allege Mabna operated as a private company carrying out intrusions for the IRGC and other Iranian government, university and private-sector clients.
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Did HBO pay the alleged Bitcoin ransom?
The Justice Department has not alleged that HBO paid the ransom. The attempted extortion was followed by the leak of stolen content.
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What reward did the US offer for information?
Rewards for Justice offered up to $10M for information leading to the location of five defendants.
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