Iran-Linked Hackers Disrupted US Oil, Gas, Water Sites

The FBI has reported that Iranian-linked hackers targeted the internet-connected systems of U.S. oil, gas, and water companies. These cyberattacks occurred despite the recent ceasefire between Iran and the United States and Israel. The hackers aimed to take control of programmable logic controller (PLC) systems, which remotely manage physical machinery. Rockwell Automation, a provider of secure internet access for PLCs, had its systems compromised. Iranian-linked coders altered project files and data, causing operational disruption and financial loss. The attacks began in January of last year and ended in March. Stryker, a medical device maker, was also targeted by the hackers. FBI Director Kash Patel experienced a personal data breach from the same group. The FBI, along with other agencies, is urging companies to implement better security measures like network defenders and multifactor authentication. The report emphasizes the existing vulnerability of internet-connected systems.