What we know about the alleged Iranian hacks on US water utilities
US water utilities across multiple states have been targeted by a series of coordinated cyberattacks. While the US government has not officially confirmed the perpetrator, officials suspect Iranian state-backed hackers are responsible for the escalation.
Why it matters
The targeting of critical infrastructure like water systems poses a significant threat to public safety and national security.
Since the end of last month, several water utilities in the United States have been hit by cyberattacks, causing alarm in the country.
For years, water utilities and other critical infrastructure facilities in the power sector , for example, have been targeted by hackers, whether government-backed or individuals. What makes these recent attacks — allegedly carried out by Iran — particularly concerning is how widespread they were, hitting targets in around a dozen states.
The U.S. has more than 150,000 water systems , some of them run by local companies. In theory, that should make it harder for hackers to target several facilities at the same time. But on the flip side, the companies running these systems may not have the resources or cybersecurity expertise needed to protect themselves.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in