What to Know About the U.S. Water Systems Cyberattacks
Cyberattacks targeting water systems in multiple states over the past week have raised questions about infrastructure security and whether the incidents are connected to Iran.
In the past week, over 30 water systems in Minnesota, including Plymouth, experienced cyberattacks targeting their operating technology, according to state officials. These attacks have also affected water systems in at least seven other states, forcing some facilities to operate manually and prompting the FBI and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue warnings to facilities across the nation.
The incidents involved hackers remotely accessing internet-connected controls, changing administrator passwords, and causing operational disruptions such as flooding and pressure loss. While the FBI and EPA have not publicly linked the attacks to Iran, federal agencies issued an updated warning about ongoing Iranian cyber threats targeting U.S. critical infrastructure.
The attacks have primarily resulted in interruptions of service, rather than exposing Americans to contamination. Federal agencies are investigating the perpetrators, with the FBI and its interagency partners remaining prepared to defend against cyber threats.
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