Government departments are preparing for a significant increase in potential cyberattacks from Iran. This surge is believed to be in response to the continuous American support for Israel amidst its conflict with the Palestinian group, Hamas.
American officials express concern not only about potential cyberattacks directed at Israel but also at other nations that have extended support to Israel, including the United States.
According to Politico’s recent report, the anticipated attacks might aim to disrupt crucial infrastructure like power or water systems. Additionally, there could be extensive attempts to spread misinformation. Officials highlighted the possibility of Iran distancing itself from these incidents by employing proxies to execute these actions.
In a testimony on Tuesday, FBI Director Christopher Wray addressed the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, stating, “The cyber targeting of American interest and critical infrastructure that we already see conducted by Iran and non-state actors alike we can expect to get worse if the conflict expands, as will the threat of kinetic attacks.”
Numerous federal agencies have emphasized that there is no evidence of an immediate or direct plan by Iran to attack critical infrastructure systems in the United States. Nevertheless, these agencies remain in a state of heightened vigilance. They anticipate that the enhanced defenses implemented after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine are capable of evolving and adapting to address potential threats from various directions.
Similar to China and Russia, Iran backs a skilled cadre of cyber experts who possess a high level of sophistication. They are capable of infiltrating government systems and even disabling entire computer networks used by companies.
Previously, Iran has initiated cyber assaults on the U.S. However, federal agencies have highlighted that the current risk of such attacks is significantly heightened due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Hamas is designated as a terrorist organization by several countries, including the United States, Israel, and the European Union, due to its history of violence and attacks targeting civilians.
