Justice Department seizes domains linked to Iran hacker group

The Justice Department has seized four internet domains linked to Iran, including one used by a hacker group that claimed responsibility for a cyberattack on a U.S. medical tech company.

The seized domains “Justicehomeland.org,” “Handala-Hack.to,” “Karmabelow80.org,” and “Handala-Redwanted.to,” were also used by Iranian Intelligence and Security Ministry to claim credit for hacking and to post sensitive data, the Justice Department said Thursday.

The United States and Israel began an air assault on Iran on Feb. 28. Since then, Iran has retaliated against U.S. military bases, consulates, Israel and other targets across the Middle East using drones and missiles. Last week, an Iran-backed group also claimed responsibility for hacking an American company, the first significant instance since the start of the war.

Handala Team, which cybersecurity companies say has ties to the Iranian Intelligence Ministry, said on its Telegram and X accounts that it had orchestrated the technology company hack. The group routinely brags about its exploits on the social media platforms, which have in recent days taken down previous versions of their accounts.

According to the Justice Department, the group used the domain Handala-hack.to claim credit for the malware attack. The group also posted photos, details of roughly 190 people affiliated with the Israel Defense Forces or government.

The group also harassed and sent death threats to Iranian dissidents and journalists, both in the U.S. and abroad.

The other two domains were used to make claims that sensitive documents and data were stolen from the Albanian government.

“The Iranian regime exploits cyberspace to advance authoritarian objectives, suppress democratic institutions, and undermine our national and economic security,” Jimmy Paul, FBI Baltimore’s special agent in charge, said in a statement. “The FBI will act swiftly, deliberately, and proactively to disable cyber threats to America.”

More than 2,000 people have been killed across the Middle East since the war began. In Iran, more than 1,200 people have been killed by Israeli and American strikes, according to the Iranian Red Crescent Society.

At least 850 people have been killed in Lebanon and 13 have died in Israel. Thirteen U.S. service members have been killed, and two more died of noncombat causes. Deaths have also been reported in Kuwait, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.