WASHINGTON – Federal officials announced Tuesday they have levied financial penalties against seven targets across Russia and the United Arab Emirates for their role in cyber activities that pose risks to American national security.
The Treasury Department’s action affects four individuals and three companies that officials say were involved in obtaining and selling dangerous cyber tools.
According to the Treasury Department’s announcement, these targets faced consequences “for their acquisition and distribution of cyber tools harmful to U.S. national security.”
The State Department simultaneously took action against some of the same targets, designating one person and two organizations under legislation known as the Protecting American Intellectual Property Act due to their connection to stealing trade secrets from Americans.
These sanctions stem from a federal investigation that uncovered how a former executive at a government contracting firm sold confidential trade secrets to a Russian buyer for $1.3 million. That Russian entity is among those now facing US sanctions.
