The Department of Justice announced Wednesday new charges in an international computer hacking and extortion scheme that targeted several major entities and municipalities, including the City of Atlanta.
Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein, Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski of the Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney Craig Carpenito for the District of New Jersey along with partners at the FBI detailed charges filed against two Iranian men still outstanding.
A federal grand jury indictment unsealed today in Newark, New Jersey gives some insight into the systematic takedown of the City of Atlanta’s computer system in March. Investigators said it was part of a network of ransomware attacks across the United States targeting hospitals, municipalities and other public entities.
The hackers responsible were demanding a ransom of about $50,000 which the city refused.
Information provided by the City of Atlanta earlier this year showed that they had recovery bills more than 53 times higher than the ransom cost they refused to pay. Numbers provided on the city's procurement website showed more than $2.6 million split eight ways in varying amounts to agencies charged with helping them recover from the ransomware attack and to seal off future holes that allowed it in the first place.