Fact Check: An Iranian national caused tens of millions in damages with a ransomware attack.

Fact Check: "An Iranian national caused tens of millions in damages with a ransomware attack."

What We Know

An Iranian national, Sina Gholinejad, has pleaded guilty to participating in an international ransomware and extortion scheme involving the Robbinhood ransomware. According to the Department of Justice, Gholinejad and his co-conspirators compromised the computer networks of various entities across the United States, including cities, corporations, and healthcare organizations. The attacks resulted in significant disruptions and caused losses amounting to tens of millions of dollars. Notably, the City of Baltimore suffered over $19 million in damages due to the attack, which severely disrupted essential city services for several months.

The indictment indicates that the conspirators used the ransomware to encrypt files on victim networks, demanding ransom payments in Bitcoin for decryption keys. This scheme not only targeted Baltimore but also affected other cities, such as Greenville, North Carolina, and Gresham, Oregon, contributing to the overall financial impact of the attacks (Reuters).

Analysis

The evidence supporting the claim that an Iranian national caused tens of millions in damages through a ransomware attack is robust. The guilty plea from Gholinejad, as reported by the Department of Justice, is a significant legal acknowledgment of his involvement in these cybercrimes. The details provided in the indictment outline the extensive nature of the attacks and their financial repercussions on multiple municipalities.

The source from the Department of Justice is credible, as it comes from a government agency responsible for law enforcement and public safety. The statements made by officials, including Matthew R. Galeotti, the Head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, emphasize the severity of the crimes and the commitment to prosecuting cybercriminals, which adds to the reliability of the information.

Additionally, the Reuters article corroborates the DOJ's findings, further validating the claim. Both sources provide consistent details about the financial impact and the nature of the ransomware attacks, reinforcing the assertion that Gholinejad's actions led to significant economic damages.

Conclusion

Verdict: True
The claim that an Iranian national caused tens of millions in damages with a ransomware attack is substantiated by credible sources, including official statements from the Department of Justice and corroborating reports from reputable news outlets. The evidence clearly indicates that the actions of Sina Gholinejad and his co-conspirators resulted in extensive financial losses and disruptions to essential services across multiple U.S. cities.

Fact Check: An Iranian national caused tens of millions in damages with a ransomware attack.