Take immediate action to ...: Researchers warn US companies of Iranian cyberattacks
Two prominent
US cybersecurity organizations
, the Information Technology — Information Sharing and Analysis Center (
IT-ISAC
) and the Food and Agriculture Information Sharing and Analysis Center (Food and Ag-ISAC), have issued an urgent warning to American businesses across the country about a potential surge in cyberattacks from Iranian-linked actors.
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The alert comes as tensions escalate between Iran and Israel, raising concerns about cyber retaliation targeting US companies.
In a joint statement released recently, the ISACs cautioned that Iranian state-sponsored hackers, pro-Iran hacktivist groups, and financially motivated cybercriminals have historically launched attacks against US organizations during periods of heightened conflict. The groups urged businesses, particularly those in
critical infrastructure
sectors, to bolster their
cybersecurity defenses
immediately.
'Preparedness is critical to resilience,' the statement emphasized, calling on companies to assess their cybersecurity posture, familiarize themselves with Iranian-affiliated threat actors' tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs), and enhance monitoring for suspicious activity. The ISACs also stressed the importance of employee training to recognize and report phishing emails and malicious links.
The warning highlighted the risk of collateral damage, noting that cyberattacks aimed at Israeli targets could inadvertently disrupt US companies due to the interconnected nature of global digital networks. 'Even attacks not directly targeting the US could have indirect effects,' the statement said.
Both organizations are actively monitoring the situation and providing real-time intelligence to their members through tools like adversary attack playbooks and secure collaboration channels.
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They encouraged non-member companies to join their information-sharing networks to strengthen industry-wide cyber defenses.
The Food and Ag-ISAC, established in 2023, supports the food and agriculture sector with threat intelligence and incident response resources. As global tensions rise, the ISACs underscored the need for heightened vigilance to protect critical infrastructure from potential disruptions.
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