Iran-Linked Hackers Are Targeting America's Water Systems - Most Still Lack Basic Security
Iran-linked hackers are increasingly targeting America's water systems, which often lack basic security measures. A recent joint advisory from federal agencies highlighted ongoing threats and vulnerabilities within these critical infrastructures. Despite the risks, many water systems remain without mandatory cybersecurity standards, leaving them exposed to potential attacks.
- ▪A ransomware attack in March 2026 disrupted a water treatment plant serving 80,000 people in Minot, North Dakota.
- ▪More than 70 percent of drinking water facilities inspected by the EPA in 2023 were found to be violating federal security laws.
- ▪The EPA, FBI, CISA, and NSA issued a joint advisory in April 2026 regarding Iranian-affiliated actors targeting water systems.
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| Original publisher | RedState |
| Canonical URL | https://redstate.com/ben-smith/2026/06/03/iran-linked-hackers-are-targeting-americas-water-systems-most-still-lack-basic-security-n2202984 |
| Publication time | Wed, 03 Jun 2026 10:55:01 -0400 |
| Retrieval time | 2026-06-03T15:02:09.825Z |
| Last seen | 2026-06-03T15:02:09.825Z |
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Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Iran-Linked Hackers Are Targeting America's Water Systems - Most Still Lack Basic Security By Ben Smith | 10:55 AM on June 03, 2026 The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of RedState.com. Townhall Media/Katie Pavlich On March 14, ransomware knocked out the water treatment plant serving 80,000 people in Minot, North Dakota. Staff spent 16 hours operating the system by hand. The city took more than two weeks to rebuild. Water quality was not affected, but the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system was gone, and the FBI was called in. The attackers have not been publicly identified. It shouldn't have been hard to see coming.
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