7 States’ Water Systems Hit by Cyberattacks Likely Tied to Iran
Plus: The FBI eyes AI-powered tech to detect future crimes, Russia charges Telegram’s founder, xAI sues to stop a state’s “nudification” ban, and the Democrats learn a lesson about getting scammed.
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Water utilities across multiple states have been hit by cyberattacks that the FBI says are likely connected to Iranian-affiliated hackers, marking what may be the broadest hacking campaign ever targeting American industrial control systems. These systems connect digital software to physical equipment in critical infrastructure, and the attacks have in some cases disabled digital controls and resulted in boil-water notices, suggesting potential water contamination. The FBI and relevant agencies are recommending that utilities immediately take measures to secure their systems by removing internet-connected devices that control physical equipment, protecting them with strong passwords, and restricting access to authorized devices only. This campaign represents a significant threat to essential services that Americans depend on for basic needs.
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