
Suspected Iranian Cyberattacks Spread to Michigan Water Systems; All Systems Operating Safely
The state of Michigan reported on Saturday, August 1, that cyberattacks had targeted nine of its water systems, joining Minnesota, where more than 30 water systems were targeted earlier in the week of July 27. Officials stressed that all systems continued to operate safely, while US law enforcement is treating Iran as the leading suspect in the attacks. At least five additional, unidentified states have also been targeted.
The Michigan disclosures came after the state received a federal cyber alert on Tuesday, July 28, warning of attempts to tamper with operational technology at water systems. Soon after the alert, the state received a small number of reports from Michigan communities describing activity consistent with the federal warnings. “All systems continued to operate safely, issues were addressed by local operators, and there are no known impacts that posed a public health concern,” said Dale George, communications director at Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.
The FBI is investigating and has not publicly named a culprit, though federal officials consider Iran the chief suspect. The FBI, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, and other agencies warned in an advisory issued in late July that Iranian hackers have been targeting water and wastewater systems along with the operational controls of other critical infrastructure sectors. “The FBI and our interagency partners are fully engaged to protect critical infrastructure, and we remain well-equipped to protect against cyber threats of all varieties,” the bureau stated on Saturday, August 1.
(TOI/VFI News)
“But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat.” – Nehemiah 4:9