Federal officials are warning that state water systems may have been compromised by Iran, according to a report by ABC News. State officials in Minnesota, Michigan and Georgia have confirmed their concern, and up to seven states could be impacted in all.
Federal officials went so far as to warn local leaders in Minnesota about Iran's possible involvement in cyberattacks targeting water and wastewater utilities, according to the report. Sources told ABC News that Iran is the prime suspect because the attacks align with Iran's capabilities.
There appears to be no ransom demand or other financial motive that would be seen if the attacks were the work of criminal actors, according to ABC News. That absence of a financial motive is part of why investigators are pointing toward Iran.
The hackers break in and change passwords, blinding the utilities and leading to a loss of control over systems and equipment, according to the report. In some cases water pressure drops, potentially allowing untreated groundwater to seep into pipes.
In other cases, hackers disabled alarms, allowing wastewater systems to enter unsafe conditions without anyone knowing, according to ABC News. There is no evidence yet that the water is unsafe.
The FBI and the EPA are actively warning state officials in at least seven states, and the number could grow, to disconnect their systems from the internet or use a system with some kind of breaker, according to the report. They are also urging utilities to figure out how to revert to manual controls in the event that automated systems are somehow compromised.
Security and intelligence officials have warned that this is exactly how Iran would retaliate and that Iran poses this kind of threat not only to water systems but to other critical infrastructure, according to ABC News. The priority now is safeguarding the water supply, as the war with Iran is well into its sixth month.