In an indictment unsealed on March 23, 2018, the Department of Justice (DOJ) brought criminal charges against nine Iranian nationals affiliated with the Mabna Institute in Iran, alleging computer intrusion, fraud, and aggravated identity theft.[1] Prosecutors charged the defendants with conspiring to steal a massive amount of intellectual property from universities, private companies, and government institutions worldwide, obtaining more than 31 terabytes of data. The defendants allegedly acted on behalf of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which is an arm of the Iranian government whose responsibilities include foreign operations and intelligence gathering. In addition to the announced charges, the nine defendants and the Mabna Institute were also designated for sanctions by the Treasury Department, Office of Foreign Asset Control, pursuant to Executive Order 13694 “Blocking the Property of certain Persons Engaging in Significant Malicious Cyber-Enabled Activities.”[2]
Continue Reading Department of Justice Indicts Iranian Hackers, Revealing Significant Data Breach and Targeting of Intellectual Property of Private Companies and Educational Institutions
The SEC Warns That Celebrity Endorsements of Virtual Currency May Violate Federal Securities Laws
The SEC has recently signaled an increased concern with the offerings and marketing of Initial Coin Offerings (“ICOs”),[1] which should be of interest to companies and institutions involved with ICOs. On November 1, 2017, the SEC Division of Enforcement and Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (“OCIE”) jointly issued a public statement warning celebrities
Hong Kong SFC and HKMA Issue New Guidelines for Reducing and Mitigating Hacking Risks Associated with Internet Trading
On October 27, 2017, the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (“SFC”) issued Guidelines for Reducing and Mitigating Hacking Risks Associated with Internet Trading (the “Guidelines”),1 a set of baseline cybersecurity requirements that all persons licensed or registered with the SFC and engaged in internet trading will be required to implement. The Hong Kong Monetary