Iran cyberspy group hit in coordinated European raids

By Eric Auchard

FRANKFURT, Nov 9 (Reuters) - European authorities have taken action to shut down a cyber espionage operation linked to Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard in the first operation of its kind since Tehran signed a nuclear treaty, according to security researchers who located computers used to launch attacks.

The hacker group - dubbed "Rocket Kitten" by security experts who have been hunting the hacker group since early 2014 - has mounted cyberattacks on high-profile political and defence figures globally since that time.

Researchers from U.S (Other OTC: UBGXF - news) .-Israeli security firm Check Point Software (Xetra: 330400 - news) declined to identify victims by name, but said they include members of the Saudi Royal Family, Israeli nuclear scientists, NATO officials, Iranian dissidents and even the wives of high-ranking generals from unnamed countries. (Additional reporting by Jim Finkle in Boston, Dan Williams in Jerusalem, Anthony Deutsch and Toby Sterling in Amsterdam and Paul Sandle in London; Editing by Maria Sheahan)