Iran-linked CyberAv3ngers suspected in attacks on Minnesota water systems
Security researchers suspect the Iran-linked group CyberAv3ngers was behind a coordinated cyberattack that disrupted over 30 water facilities in Minnesota. The attacks targeted operational technology, prompting state agencies to coordinate a response and issue limited water-use advisories in some communities. No official attribution has been confirmed, but the pattern aligns with previous activities linked to Iran’s IRGC cyber unit.
- ▪Tenable analysts identified the attack pattern as consistent with the CyberAv3ngers group, which is believed to be connected to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
- ▪More than 30 Minnesota community water systems experienced disruptions on July 26-27, leading some cities to issue temporary water-use restrictions.
- ▪The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) had issued an advisory days earlier warning of Iran-linked actors targeting programmable logic controllers in critical infrastructure.
- ▪State officials emphasized a whole-of-government response, working with partners to restore services and strengthen future defenses.
6 outlets in our directory ran this story, first to last over 3 days. Coverage spans 2 points on the political spectrum — 2 lean left, 3 centre.
- ▪ Cyberattacks hit water facilities in seven states across the US — Engadget
- ▪ 7 States’ Water Systems Hit by Cyberattacks Likely Tied to Iran — WIRED
- ▪ Trump Claims Minnesota Is Behind Cyberattack on Its Own Water Systems, Not Iran — Gizmodo
- ▪ Trump says he does not think Iran is behind a cyberattack on Minnesota water systems: "I think I blame it on Minnesota because they're grossly incompetent" (Reuters) — Techmeme
- ▪ U.S. Sees Iran as Likely Behind Cyberattack on Minnesota Water Systems — NYT — US
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| Original publisher | The Register |
| Canonical URL | https://www.theregister.com/security/2026/07/29/iran-linked-cyberav3ngers-suspected-in-attacks-on-minnesota-water-systems/5280357 |
| Publication time | Wed, 29 Jul 2026 15:49:00 +0200 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-07-29T13:53:12.332Z |
| Last seen | 2026-07-29T13:53:12.332Z |
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| Cluster | 5vtf-x1DJD0X · 6 stories |
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Basis: Derived from the published RSS/Atom feed. Contact: [email protected]. Reviewed: 2026-07-24.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
(function() { let windowUrl = window.location.href; windowUrl = windowUrl.substring(windowUrl.indexOf('?') + 1); let messageElement = document.querySelector('.shareableMessage'); if (windowUrl && windowUrl.includes('code') && windowUrl.includes('expires')) { messageElement.style.display = 'block'; } })(); Security Iran-linked CyberAv3ngers suspected in attacks on Minnesota water systems More than 30 facilities disrupted in 'coordinated cyberattack,' though officials have yet to name a culprit Connor Jones Connor Jones Cybersecurity reporter Published wed 29 Jul 2026 // 14:49 UTC Security researchers at Tenable suspect the Iran-linked faux hacktivist outfit CyberAv3ngers was behind the cyberattack that disrupted more than 30 Minnesota water facilities.Neither state-level nor federal…
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