Iranian hackers blamed for breach of Los Angeles transit system that took weeks to recover | TechCrunch

Last day to exhibit your breakthrough to 10,000+ tech leaders at Disrupt is on Oct 2. Book Exhibit Table Now. Disrupt doors open Oct. 13. Get your pass and bring someone with you at 50% off. REGISTER NOW. Security researchers say a March breach of the Los Angeles transit system (Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, or LACMTA) was the work of Iranian-backed hackers. Israeli startup Gambit Security said in a report on Tuesday that the hackers work for Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and State Security (MOIS). Reuters first wrote about the Gambit report. A hacktivist group calling itself Ababil of Minab claimed responsibility for the earlier hack, saying they stole, then deleted data from the LACMTA’s systems. The group’s name is a reference to the U.S. air strike on an Iranian school in the city of Minab that killed more than 175 people, mostly children. “They are not a new, standalone hacktivist crew as they claim,” said Gambit. Ababil of Minab did not respond to a request for comment when contacted by TechCrunch. Gambit said its claims are based on forensic evidence that ties the group to a previous Iran-linked campaign, as well as activity attributed to the MO