The United States State Department is offering up to $10 million for information on Iranian-linked cyber actors, including Parsian Afzar Rayan Borna and the Handala hacking group.
A statement on Friday by the Department’s Rewards for Justice program urged the public to provide names, online personas, and locations of associated individuals or groups.
The announcement followed the reported breach of FBI Director Kash Patel’s internet activity by actors believed to be connected to the Iranian government.
According to Reuters, the hackers compromised Patel’s personal email and posted materials grabbed from his account, including photos and documents.
The photos published were taken before Patel became the FBI director. The stolen emails were from around 2011 to 2022 and include personal, business, and travel communication.
The FBI has confirmed the incident but said no government information was leaked. The security agency assured it had taken all necessary steps to mitigate potential risks.
The statement added that the FBI “will continue to pursue the actors responsible, support victims, and share actionable intelligence in defense of networks.”
Iran is increasing its cyber warfare amid the war with the United States and Israel. A fortnight ago, Iranian hackers hit U.S.-based Stryker, a global medical technology corporation.
The activity erased data from devices, work accounts from personal phones, and shut systems at a company’s site in Ireland. The incident was eventually contained, Stryker confirmed.
The FBI recently warned that Iran may attempt to strike the U.S. homeland, possibly with drones, and advised the police in California to take precautionary measures.
