The US has charged seven Iranians for allegedly hacking nearly 50 financial companies and a New York dam.

The attacks, occurring from 2011 to 2013, are believed to have been co-ordinated from Iranian companies. The US Department of Justice revealed an indictment against the seven Iranians believed to be working for their government.

The indictment calls them « experienced computer hackers » and officials said the attacks were a « wake-up call ». The attacks « threatened our economic well-being and our ability to compete fairly in the global marketplace – both of which are directly linked to our national security, » said US Attorney General Loretta Lynch. « And we believe that they were conducted with the sole purpose of undermining the targeted companies and damaging the online operation of America’s free market. »

Mrs Lynch said the attacks cost the victims tens of millions of dollars. The seven defendants face a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for conspiracy to commit and aid and abet computer hacking.