Iranian Hacker Breaches US Government Agency to Install Cryptocurrency Program

CNN "Government Network Breach Occurred in February... Department of Homeland Security Took Action Only in June"
Security Vulnerability Targeted That CISA Issued Emergency Alert for Last Year... Motive for Breach Unclear

[Image source=Pixabay]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Junran] Hackers supported by the Iranian government were caught after infiltrating U.S. government agency networks, hacking passwords, and installing cryptocurrency mining software.

According to CNN on the 16th (local time), the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced this information, stating that the network hacking may have started in February. However, they did not specify the affected agencies, and said the DHS response took place in June.

The security vulnerability exploited by the hackers was the same one for which CISA issued an alert in December last year and instructed agencies to respond. Previously, CISA had required these agencies to apply the latest updates and emergency patches to address the hacking vulnerability. CNN pointed out that this case revealed it can take several months from the start of hacking to its discovery.

The detected Iranian hackers reportedly accessed U.S. government networks and installed cryptocurrency mining software. CNN interpreted this incident as evidence that hackers are voluntarily engaging in profit-driven hacking without direct orders from the Iranian government. Until now, Iranian hackers have typically operated with the support of the Iranian government. The broadcast noted that for Iranian citizens suffering from economic sanctions, hacking can be a means of generating income.

However, CNN explained that the exact purpose of the Iranian hackers’ intrusion remains unclear. The FBI and CISA did not immediately respond to CNN’s inquiries regarding the hackers’ motives. The Iranian Mission to the United Nations also did not respond. The Iranian government has consistently denied hacking allegations.

Meanwhile, the U.S. government has recently accused Iranian government contractors of conducting hacking activities for personal gain over the past several months. In September, three Iranians working at an IT company affiliated with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps were indicted for hacking U.S. companies.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.