Iranian cyber attack shuts down UK power plant for four days, report says
Iranian cyber attack shuts down UK power plant for four days, report says Iranian hackers shut down a British power plant for four days in an unprecedented cyber attack, the Sunday Telegraph reported. According to the newspaper, the incident appears to mark the first time Iran-linked hackers have successfully shut down such a British facility. The incident occurred alongside a series of attacks…
Power companies in the UK have been put on alert following a suspected Iranian cyber attack on an energy site in July. The attack is believed to have been carried out by the group CyberAv3ngers, linked to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and specialized in breaching infrastructure. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero stated that the attack was on a small plant and posed no risk to the wider energy system.
However, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) issued an alert to energy companies, providing advice and guidance.
The NCSC and Department for Energy Security and Net Zero held briefings and direct communications with energy CEOs, emphasizing the UK's highly resilient energy system and close collaboration with the energy sector to safeguard infrastructure and uphold security standards. Michael Shanks, the Minister for Energy, highlighted the seriousness of the incident and the government's ongoing collaboration with regulators and the NCSC to assess threats and enhance protections.
Former head of MI6 overseas spy agency Richard Moore warned that the UK faces cyber attacks from various states, including China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. He stressed the importance of building resilience and ability to combat such threats. The IRGC's electronic warfare arm, headed by Hamid Lashgarian, has been sanctioned by the US, with a $10 million reward offered for information on his activities.
CyberAv3ngers targeted the Vision series of programmable logic controllers (PLCs) manufactured by Israel-based Unitronic. These rugged, industrial-grade computers automate machinery, manufacturing lines, and critical infrastructure across various industries, including water and wastewater, energy, food and beverage, manufacturing, healthcare, and more.
A recent Tenable report revealed that CyberAv3ngers has repeatedly compromised small water utilities, municipal facilities, and rural energy operators due to structural vulnerabilities, such as using remote access tools and exposing PLCs directly to the public internet.
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