Justice Department Charges Two In Atlanta Cyberattack

The U.S. Department of Justice has announced charges against two Iranian nationals who allegedly executed hundreds of cyberattacks against hospitals, cities and public institutions, including the City of Atlanta. 

In a Nov. 28 press conference, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said Faramarz Shahi Savandi and Mohammad Mehdi Shah Mansouri collected more than $6 million in extortion payments and caused more than $30 million in losses using a "SamSam" ransomware attack. 

The attack encrypted victims' computers, locking out access to files and other important information unless a ransom was paid.

In March, the City of Atlanta's computer infrastructure was crippled for weeks after hackers demanded about $51,000 in the cryptocurrency Bitcoin. Atlantans were unable to do things like pay parking tickets or use wifi at the Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Wednesday afternoon, the City of Atlanta released a statement.

“The City of Atlanta is aware of the U.S. Department of Justice’s indictment related to the March cyber-attack against the City. We are grateful for all our federal partners who have assisted with identifying the perpetrators and bringing them to justice. The Administration remains committed to ensuring the ongoing safety and security of the City’s cyber-infrastructure, as well as that of the people of Atlanta.”

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.