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Iranian hackers caught targeting Israeli nuclear scientists; Iran to acquire powerful air defences

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A group of Iranian hackers have targeted Israeli physicists and nuclear scientists according to Israeli cyber-security firm Check Point.

Check Point revealed this information after gaining access to the hackers’ servers and obtaining their target list. The hacker group, known as Rocket Kitten, performed “spear phishing” attacks, targeted methods designed to get the passwords of particular people.

Check Point alerted authorities in Britain, Germany and the Netherlands who were subsequently able to seize the hacker group’s servers, effectively shutting them down in a coordinated operation. Check Point’s research determined that the group mainly targeted Iranian dissidents, as well as individuals from Israel, Turkey and the USA.

Shahar Tal of Checkpoint explained that the attacks are very similar to the ones previously attributed to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps. Check Point identified the lead hacker as Iranian national Yaser Balaghi, although it is unlikely he will be charged or extradited by Iran.

In other Iran related news, Russia has signed a deal to provide Iran with the advanced S-300 air defence system. Sale of the system had been suspended in 2010 due to UN sanctions on Iran and international pressure, but the deal is now back on following the Iran nuclear agreement. The S-300 is considered one of the world’s most advanced aerial defence systems and may enable Iran to protect itself from attack if it chooses to abandon the nuclear agreement in the future.