Iran-linked hackers 'shut down' small power plant in UK

In recent weeks, a small power facility in the United Kingdom experienced a cyber attack, according to reports from the Telegraph. The attack, lasting for four days, was attributed to hackers linked to the Iranian regime. The UK government confirmed that the attack targeted a small-scale energy generator, and that the broader energy system remained unaffected.

The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero provided guidance to energy sector professionals and issued advice to relevant companies in response to the incident. The UK government emphasized the resilience of its energy system and the importance of closely collaborating with the energy sector to protect infrastructure and maintain the highest security standards.

The incident was reported to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), a division of GCHQ, which did not report any outages related to the cyberattack. The NCSC has previously warned about a pattern of disruptive cyber activity targeting UK organizations by state and non-state actors. Richard Horne, the NCSC chief, highlighted earlier this year that hostile states, including Iran, are increasingly targeting the UK's infrastructure with online attacks.

Liberal Democrats foreign affairs spokesperson Calum Miller criticized the incident, stating that it underscores the threat posed by hostile foreign powers to national security, urging the government to strengthen measures to secure energy infrastructure and prevent potential attacks.