The IRGC Organized Cyber Crime Investigation Center have reported that over 3,000 Iranian websites have been hacked by a group called the Mafia Hacking Team.
According to Tasnim news, IRGC Organized Cyber Crime Investigation Center spokesman Mostafa Alizadeh stated that, "The person who recently hacked state bodies' websites managed to access banks' data bases, including 3,000 pay slips... the person who introduced themselves as 'Mafia Hacking Team' in cyberspace and hacked websites of state bodies had identified well-known sites more than a year ago"
Alizadeh also added that, "This hacker tried to make these bodies realize that the security hole that exists in their portals but they did not pay any attention to this". In other words, Iran has been caught with her cyber-underwear exposed and is very red faced!
Mostafa Alizadeh stated that the attacker had also hacked various bank information, but did not publish the information (including 3,000 payslips) as the attacker "did not have criminal intentions", according to Alizadeh.
So it seems that Mafia Hacking Team are not black hat hackers but perhaps gray hat hackers?
The IRGC said that of the 3,000 websites attacked, 38 were Government sites, including the National Organization for Civil Registration (reported by the Iranian Young Journalists Club), Roads and Urban Development, Customs, Industries and Mines organizations. In addition, 370 University sites were also attacked.
Alizadeh was at least honest enough to admit that those "organizations do not use firewalls and lack enough experts for updating their security means". Not the best cyber security policy perhaps...
