The United States Department of State has announced a reward of up to $10 million for information on Iranian-linked cyber actors, including Parsian Afzar Rayan Borna and the Handala hacking group.
In a statement released on Friday through its Rewards for Justice Program, the department called on the public to provide details such as names, online identities, and locations of individuals or groups connected to the cyber activities.
The announcement comes after reports that hackers believed to be linked to the Iranian government breached the internet activity of Kash Patel, the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
According to reports, the attackers gained access to Patel’s personal email account and released materials including photos and documents. The images reportedly predate his tenure as FBI Director, while the emails span from 2011 to 2022 and include personal, business, and travel communications.
The FBI has confirmed the breach but stated that no classified or government information was compromised. The agency also noted that it has taken steps to mitigate any potential risks arising from the incident.
The bureau added that it “will continue to pursue the actors responsible, support victims, and share actionable intelligence in defense of networks.”
Rising cyber tensions have been linked to broader geopolitical conflicts involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.
In a related development, Iranian-linked hackers recently targeted Stryker, a U.S.-based global medical technology firm. The cyberattack reportedly wiped data from devices, removed work accounts from personal phones, and disrupted operations at one of the company’s sites in Ireland before being contained.
The FBI has also issued warnings about the possibility of further actions, including potential drone-related threats on U.S. soil, urging law enforcement agencies, particularly in California, to take precautionary measures.
