{
  "id": 3016612,
  "title": "UK energy alert issued after Iranian cyber attack on power plant",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/uk-energy-alert-issued-after-iranian-cyber-attack-on-power-plant",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-24T12:27:39.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National Business",
    "slug": "the-national-business",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/uk/2026/08/24/uk-energy-alert-issued-after-iranian-cyber-attack-on-power-plant/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.\n\nThe 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.\n\nFormer 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.\n\nCyberAv3ngers 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.",
  "summary": "Power companies in the UK have been put on alert after hackers linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) shut down an energy site. The attack took place in July and is suspected to have been carried out by a group calling itself CyberAv3ngers, which is affiliated with the IRGC's electronic warfare arm and specialises in breaching infrastructure. The Department for Energy Security and…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "People Daily Kenya",
        "title": "Iranian hackers shut down UK power plant",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/iranian-hackers-shut-down-uk-power-plant",
        "published": "2026-08-23T07:00:05.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "City AM",
        "title": "Iranian hackers behind UK energy plant attack",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/iranian-hackers-behind-uk-energy-plant-attack",
        "published": "2026-08-23T10:42:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Middle East Eye",
        "title": "Iranian cyber attack shuts down UK power plant for four days, report says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/23/iranian-cyber-attack-shuts-down-uk-power-plant-for-four-days-report",
        "published": "2026-08-23T11:53:29.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The National UAE",
        "title": "UK energy alert issued after Iranian cyber attack on power plant",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/uk-energy-alert-issued-after-iranian-cyber-attack-on-power-plant-3017080",
        "published": "2026-08-24T12:27:39.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}