USA Under Cyberattack: Iranian Hackers Threaten Energy and Water Systems

The US government has issued an official warning that state-sponsored Iranian hackers are actively breaching and disrupting industrial control systems of water and energy providers in the country. These cyberattacks pose a serious threat to the stability of critical infrastructure and have intensified amid rising international political tensions. This is reported by Techcrunch.com reports .

According to an updated report released by the FBI, NSA, Department of Energy, and CISA, hackers are targeting programmable logic controllers (PLC) in internet-connected operational networks. These devices are used to automate industrial processes, and gaining access allows attackers to manipulate data and shut down systems.

Technologies and Brands at Risk

Initially, it was determined that hackers were only targeting controllers manufactured by Rockwell. However, according to the latest data, the scope of the attacks has expanded, and products from global giants such as Schneider Electric and Siemens are now also at risk. Experts warn that almost all industrial control systems connected to the internet can be potential victims of attacks.

According to the FBI, hackers managed to infiltrate the system of a critical infrastructure provider and alter the programming logic of the controllers. As a result, critical processes responsible for emergency shutdowns and warning signals were disabled. This caused the system to enter a dangerous state while leaving operators unaware of these anomalies.

Political Motives and Cyber-Sabotage

This cyber activity is being assessed as a response to ongoing conflicts between Iran, the USA, and Israel. Iranian hackers and their proxies are conducting various operations in the region and the West, ranging from espionage to complete system sabotage. For example, hackers recently attacked the US medical technology giant Stryker, remotely wiping data from the devices of tens of thousands of employees.

Additionally, a hacking group called "Handala" claimed to have breached the system of a California water utility (Cal Water) in June. Although the company stated that no evidence of unauthorized access to operational networks was found, such incidents clearly demonstrate the threat to vital public resources. Currently, the US government is urging all owners of strategic facilities to immediately strengthen their cybersecurity measures.