The letter singled out alleged Iranian and Chinese cyber attackers. (representative)
Washington:
The U.S. government is warning state governors that foreign hackers are conducting destructive cyberattacks on water and sewer systems across the country.
In a letter released Tuesday, national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan warned that “crippling cyberattacks are striking water and wastewater systems across the United States.”
The letter singled out alleged Iranian and Chinese cyber attackers. Sullivan and Regan cited a case in which hackers accused of working with Iran’s Revolutionary Guards disabled the controller of a water facility in Pennsylvania and pointed to a Chinese hacking group known as “Volt Typhoon,” saying the group ” disrupting information technology in multiple countries.” Critical infrastructure systems of the United States and its territories, including drinking water. “
“These attacks have the potential to disrupt critical lifelines of clean and safe drinking water and impose significant costs on affected communities,” the letter said.
The Chinese embassy in Washington and the Iranian mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.Both countries have denied conducting cyberattacks in the past
Digital security at water and wastewater treatment plants has long been a concern for cybersecurity professionals because these facilities provide critical services and are often poorly protected.
The letter calls on governors to “ensure that all water systems in their state comprehensively evaluate their current cybersecurity practices” and prepare for potential cyber incidents.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
