US Agencies Warn Iranian Hackers Target Water and Energy Systems
The US government has issued an alert over Iranian hackers breaching industrial control systems for water and energy, expanding their targets to include major brands like Rockwell, Schneider Electric, and Siemens.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- FBI, NSA, Department of Energy, and CISA issue a joint threat advisory
- Hackers breach internet-connected Programmable Logic Controllers
- Targets expand from Rockwell to include Schneider Electric and Siemens
- Handala group claims responsibility for the June cyberattack on Cal Water
The United States government has issued a fresh security warning stating that state-backed Iranian hacker groups are attempting to infiltrate and disrupt industrial control systems belonging to domestic water and energy providers. This latest alert was published after federal agencies had already spent months warning about escalating cyberattacks from Iran amid ongoing wartime conditions.
In an updated threat advisory released on Wednesday, key agencies including the FBI, NSA, the Department of Energy, and CISA stated that Iranian hackers are targeting Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) connected to internet-facing operational networks. This vulnerability allows malicious actors to take control and manipulate data on display screens, potentially leading to power outages and system shutdowns.
Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) act as industrial brains that command heavy machinery, water valves, or electrical grids. Connecting these networks to the internet for remote management convenience often becomes a critical vulnerability targeted by hackers, as it allows them to access critical infrastructure without physical confrontation.
Earlier in the same year, signs of attacks primarily targeted controllers from Rockwell. However, according to the latest advisory, the list of targeted industrial control systems has expanded to include products from leading manufacturers such as Schneider Electric and Siemens, reflecting an increasingly broad and sophisticated attack campaign.
These incidents represent the latest wave of cyberattacks conducted by Iranian state-sponsored hackers and proxy networks since the war began in last February. In June, a hacking group calling themselves Handala claimed responsibility for breaching the water system of Cal Water in California, asserting that they had enough capability to shut down the water supply system, though no concrete evidence was provided. Meanwhile, the water provider clarified that no traces of unauthorized access to the operational network used for water system control were found.
Source: TechCrunch
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