Shahid Hemmat Hackers: $10M Reward Offered by US
The US Department of State has announced a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the identification or location of individuals engaged in malicious cyber activities against US critical infrastructure under the direction of foreign governments. This initiative falls under the purview of the “Rewards for Justice” program, a division of the State Department tasked with pursuing individuals who pose a threat to US national security.
Central to this announcement is the identification of the Shahid Hemmat group, which, according to the State Department, operates under the control of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Four Iranian hackers – Manouchehr Akbari, Amir Hossein Hoseini, Mohammad Hossein Moradi, and Mohammad Reza Rafatnejad – have been designated as key figures within this group.
The State Department asserts that these individuals orchestrated extensive cyberattacks targeting the US defense sector and international transportation networks. Their actions are classified as violations of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.
Furthermore, it has been determined that the Shahid Hemmat group collaborates with other individuals and entities affiliated with the IRGC, including Mohammad Bagher Shirinkar, Mahdi Lashgarian, and Alireza Shafie Nasab. Among the front companies employed in these operations are Emennet Pasargad, Dadeh Afzar Arman (DAA), and Mehrsam Andisheh Saz Nik (MASN).
