"Iran Attempted Cyberattacks on U.S. Mainland Energy, Water and Communications Facilities"

[Financial News] Iranian hackers recently attempted cyberattacks targeting water systems, communications networks and energy infrastructure in the United States, NBC reported on the 2nd, local time, citing four sources familiar with the matter.
Although the attacks were unsuccessful, experts say they indicate that Iran could retaliate by targeting critical infrastructure on the U.S. mainland.
The recent attacks reportedly focused mainly on internet-connected automated systems. However, no cases have been confirmed in which the attacks caused serious damage to infrastructure or disrupted its operations.
Federal authorities, including the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), warned in July that Iran-linked hackers were attempting to breach internet-connected devices used to manage critical infrastructure systems. CISA also issued additional recommendations last month urging operators of critical infrastructure to strengthen security.
The Telegram channel APT Iran, which claims to represent Iran's cyber operations, also foreshadowed attacks on U.S. infrastructure. The channel claimed that an "unexpected major incident" would occur in the United States' energy, water and communications sectors, but provided no evidence that it had successfully carried out a cyberattack.
The FBI said last month that it was investigating cyberattacks against local water systems in at least seven states. NBC News had previously reported that the attacks were considered highly likely to have been carried out by Iranian hackers. The attacks did not cause serious operational disruptions or water contamination.
Although the recent attack attempts were not technically sophisticated, some operators still rely on basic internet-connected equipment, raising concerns that they could remain vulnerable.

[email protected] Lee Seok-woo, International Affairs Correspondent Reporter