Another warning for the US on Iran and Israel ceasefire collapse: Hackers may go back to work on ....
Hackers aligned with Iran have reportedly launched cyberattacks on U.S. banks, defense contractors, and oil companies in response to American strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, but these efforts have not yet caused significant disruptions to
critical infrastructure
or the economy. According to a report by news agency AP, hackers backing Tehran have targeted U.S. banks, defense contractors and oil industry companies following American strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities — but so far have not caused widespread disruptions to critical infrastructure or the economy.
However, experts warn that a collapse of the ceasefire between Iran and Israel, or actions by independent pro-Iranian hacking groups, could escalate the digital conflict. "If the ceasefire breaks down, we could see more aggressive cyberattacks," said Arnie Bellini, a tech entrepreneur and CEO of Bellini Capital, as quoted by AP.
Bellini emphasized that cyberattacks are far less costly than traditional warfare, highlighting America's vulnerability due to its reliance on digital systems. "We're militarily dominant, but digitally, we're like Swiss cheese," he told the news agency.
According to the report, two pro-Palestinian hacking groups claimed responsibility for targeting over a dozen U.S. aviation, banking, and oil firms with denial-of-service attacks following the strikes. The group Mysterious Team announced on Telegram, "We increase attacks from today," urging other hackers to join, per researchers at SITE Intelligence Group.
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The Department of Homeland Security issued a warning on June 22 about heightened Iranian cyber threats, while the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) urged critical infrastructure operators to remain vigilant, AP reports. Though Iran's cyber capabilities lag behind those of China or Russia, it has a history of using cyberattacks for espionage and disruption, often acting as a "chaos agent," according to Ziv Mador of Trustwave's SpiderLabs.
Independent hacker groups, some loosely tied to Iranian agencies, pose a persistent threat. The report notes that Trustwave has identified over 60 such groups, capable of causing economic and psychological damage, as seen in past attacks like the 2023 hack of an Israeli emergency alert app falsely warning of a nuclear missile.
Iran may also intensify efforts to spy on U.S. leaders, claims the AP report, citing last year's charges against three Iranian operatives for attempting to hack Donald Trump's campaign. "They're likely focusing on intelligence collection to predict U.S. or Israeli moves," Jake Williams, a former NSA expert, said as quoted by the report.
Experts stress the need for stronger cyber defenses. Bellini, who donated $40 million to a new cybersecurity center at the University of South Florida, described the situation as a "new arms race" to AP, comparing it to "Wile E. Coyote vs. the Road Runner—a back-and-forth that never ends."
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