Latest news with #Iranian-affiliated
The Hill
15 hours ago
- Business
- The Hill
Could US involvement in Israel-Iran war spark cyberattacks?
U.S. companies, global supply chains and other critical infrastructure could be at risk of Iranian cyberattacks if President Trump engages the U.S. in the escalating war between Israel and Iran. Threats of the U.S. being targeted come as cyberattacks launched by Iran on Israeli banks and other targets have reportedly spiked by 700 percent since the conflict began last week. In the wake of the attack, the U.S.-based Food and Agriculture-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC) and the Information Technology-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (IT-ISAC) issued a joint statement urging U.S. companies to bolster their defenses against possible cyberattacks. But as Trump considers whether and to what extent the U.S. could become involved in the ongoing war, how the country's digital landscape will be affected should remain among the White House's biggest concerns, former CIA officer and FBI special agent Tracy Walder told NewsNation, The Hill's sister network. 'I personally feel that this is the No. 1 threat,' Walder, a NewsNation national security contributor, said Thursday. Walder says that Iran has already warned against U.S. involvement, pledging 'all-out war' were the U.S. to lend support to Israel. She believes a large part of that response would likely involve cyberattacks directed at critical sites such as water treatment plants and other key facilities. 'They've done it before, and so I don't have any reason to think they wouldn't do it again,' Walder added of Iran's history. An Iranian track record of cyberattacks In its warning to U.S. companies, the joint statement between the Food and Agriculture ISAC and IT ISAC said that historically, Iranian state-sponsored actors, as well as pro-Iran hacktivists and cybercriminals, have launched attacks against U.S. targets during periods of heightened conflict. The organizations said in the wake of the recent volley of missiles launched between Israel and Iran, U.S. companies should take immediate steps to 'proactively assess' their cyber preparedness. The warning also urged companies to prepare for a range of cyberactivities, some of which could be potentially disruptive. 'Preparedness is critical to resilience,' the guidance said, adding that companies should also make themselves aware of Iranian-affiliated cyberthreats. Walder, without direct knowledge of intelligence being provided to Trump, believes that both the administration and the U.S. intelligence community are likely actively conducting threat assessments. She predicts that part of ongoing discussions with Israel may include how cybersecurity protections would be given to the U.S. in exchange for supplying 'bunker buster' bombs. Dating back to her time in the CIA, Walder has remained vocal about the seriousness of the cyberthreats that Iran and other foreign adversaries present. But she warns that Iran, along with China, poses the biggest concerns. In 2016, seven Iranians were indicted for conducting cyberattacks against U.S. financial institutions, including Bank of America and Chase, between 2011 and 2013. The FBI said at the time that the attacks cost American banks tens of millions of dollars and also compromised critical controls of a New York dam. Most of the attacks against the banks were part of a systematic campaign of distributed denial-of-service attacks, which disabled bank websites and prevented customers from accessing their accounts. In 2022, Iranian nationals who FBI officials say were sponsored by the Iranian government were indicted for an attempted cyberattack on Boston Children's Hospital in 2021, marking the third time the hospital faced similar threats. 'Iran is highly capable in the cyber realm, and we, I think, don't want to recognize that sometimes,' Walder said, adding, 'We have no choice but to take them seriously. If we don't, that's incredibly negligent on our part, because they've done it successfully before.' What could cyberattacks look like? If Iran were to act, Iranian financial resources could be used for state-sponsored ransomware attacks and wiper malware attacks that could be directed at U.S. infrastructure, Axios reported. The Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) recently reported that recent Iranian state-sponsored activity has included malicious cyberactivity against operational technology devices. The agency warned companies that certain steps, including strengthening existing passwords and implementing multi-factor authentication, should be taken to build resilience against potential threats. Messages sent to the CISA and National Security Council on Thursday from NewsNation seeking comment were not immediately returned. The FBI, in recent years, has issued reports warning against the threat that Iran presents, including cyberattacks, which have previously proven costly to the U.S. economy. While U.S. critical infrastructure remains a main target, other possibilities, including America's food chain, could be in danger. Walder points to a June 5 ransomware attack on United Natural Foods, Inc., which is the primary distributor to Whole Foods, that shut down distribution to more than 30,000 North American grocery stores. Food distribution services and other technology services are still recovering, providing a glimpse into what could happen should the U.S. be attacked in this manner. If Iran were to attack, Walder predicts it would target private companies that are associated with the country's critical needs and critical infrastructure, which would impact large populations of Americans while also exposing the country's vulnerabilities. 'In my opinion, this is what warfare looks like,' Walder told NewsNation.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
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. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 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. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 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.
New York Post
2 days ago
- Business
- New York Post
US businesses warned to brace for Iranian cyberattacks as war with Israel escalates
Two leading US cybersecurity organizations are urging American businesses to brace for a potential wave of cyberattacks from Iran as the country is engaged in escalating hostilities with Israel. The Information Technology — Information Sharing and Analysis Center (IT-ISAC) and the Food and Agriculture Information Sharing and Analysis Center (Food and Ag-ISAC) issued a joint statement last week warning that the conflict could trigger a surge in cyber activity from Iranian-linked actors targeting American companies. 'Historically, Iranian state-sponsored actors, pro-Iran hacktivist groups, and financially motivated cybercriminals have launched attacks against US organizations during periods of heightened conflict,' the statement said. 4 Two leading US cybersecurity organizations are urging American businesses to brace for a potential wave of cyberattacks from Iran. Rumana – The two ISACs called on businesses across all sectors — especially those in critical infrastructure — to 'take immediate steps to proactively assess their cyber preparedness, enhance their defenses, and prepare for a range of cyber activity, some of which could potentially be disruptive.' Iranian-affiliated threat actors are known for their aggressive and adaptive tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) — a cybersecurity term that describes how hackers or cybercriminal groups plan and carry out attacks in the digital world. The two cybersecurity groups emphasized the importance of raising internal awareness, boosting monitoring for suspicious behavior and training employees to report phishing emails and malicious links. 'Preparedness is critical to resilience,' the organizations wrote. 'Now is the time for companies to become familiar with Iranian-affiliated threat actors and their TTPs, assess their own cybersecurity posture, strengthen their defenses, begin heightened monitoring for suspicious activity, and remind employees to report suspicious emails and links.' The ISACs also highlighted the risks of collateral damage, noting that attacks aimed directly at Israeli targets could inadvertently impact US companies through the global interconnectedness of digital networks. 4 Israeli air defense systems are activated to intercept Iranian missiles over Tel Aviv on Wednesday. AFP via Getty Images 'Even attacks not directly targeting the US could have indirect effects and cause disruptions to companies in the US,' the statement warned. 'It is possible that cyber attacks targeting Israel itself could cause collateral damage to US companies, even if the US companies themselves are not the intended target.' Both organizations said they are continuing to monitor the situation and provide real-time intelligence to member companies. They noted that their member base is actively using tools such as adversary attack playbooks and secure collaboration channels to stay ahead of emerging threats. 'The Food and Ag-ISAC and IT-ISAC will continue to monitor the situation and provide timely intelligence updates as new threats emerge,' the statement read. The alert comes as US critical infrastructure sectors remain on high alert amid rising global tensions. Both ISACs encourage companies not currently participating in their information-sharing networks to join voluntarily in order to strengthen the broader industry's cyber defenses. The Food and Ag-ISAC, launched in 2023, provides threat intelligence and incident response resources for the food and agriculture sector. 4 Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has vowed that his country 'won't surrender.' via REUTERS The IT-ISAC, founded in 2000, supports companies across the technology space with curated cyber threat analysis and collaborative security tools. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has vowed that the country 'won't surrender,' issuing a warning that any American military involvement would result in 'irreparable consequences.' His statement follows remarks from President Trump, who posted on social media that the US knows the whereabouts of Iran's top leadership but has chosen not to act—before declaring, 'UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!' A White House official told the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday that Trump spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday as military tensions escalated in the region. 4 Iran-linked hackers are believed to have launched cyber attacks against US targets during period of geopolitical unrest. AFP via Getty Images In recent days, the US has reinforced its military presence near Iran, with a third Navy destroyer entering the eastern Mediterranean and a second aircraft carrier strike group en route to the Arabian Sea. Although the Pentagon has described the deployments as defensive in nature, the positioning could serve dual purposes — either to enable a potential joint offensive with Israel or to increase pressure on Iran to back down or negotiate. Fighting between Israel and Iran has intensified, with reports of mounting casualties. A human-rights group said the death toll in Iran has climbed above 450, while Israeli authorities have reported 24 deaths resulting from Iranian missile attacks. The Post has sought comment from the Iranian government.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Iran claims it seized thousands of Israeli intel. materials, including nuclear docs.
According to reports by sources to Iranian-affiliated media, the documents were allegedly transferred from within Israel to Iranian territory. Iran has obtained Israeli intelligence materials, including sensitive documents related to Israel's nuclear capabilities, Iranian-affiliated media reported on Saturday. The intelligence materials allegedly include thousands of documents related to that regime's nuclear plans and facilities. The documents were transferred from within Israel to Iranian territory, Lebanese Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Mayadeen remarked. Even though the mentioned operation was carried out some time ago, "the abundance of documents is such that reviewing them and viewing images and videos has taken up a significant amount of time," sources told Iran's Tasnim News Agency. Due to the need to securely transport the leaked materials into Iran, a period of media silence was maintained to ensure their safe arrival "at protected destinations" in the country, sources emphasized. Roi Mizrahi and Almog Attias, both 25, were allegedly in contact with an Iranian intelligence operative who instructed them to install spy cameras, according to an Israeli indictment filed in May. While there is no confirmed link to the recent Israeli intelligence leak, sources suggested that these suspects may be linked to the alleged intel leak. The State Prosecution filed an indictment at the Beersheba District Court against Roi Mizrahi and Almog Attias for carrying out a series of intelligence missions on behalf of agents operating for Iranian intelligence agencies, the Attorney-General's Office announced Friday. Both Mizrahi and Attias are from Nesher, southwest of Haifa. The Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) announced the arrest of the two in May. Mizrahi has been charged with contacting a foreign agent, assisting an enemy in wartime, and carrying and transporting weapons. Attias was charged with contact with a foreign agent and providing information to the enemy, intending to harm the state's security.
Daily Tribune
22-02-2025
- General
- Daily Tribune
U.S. B-52 Bombers Conduct Strategic Missions Over Arabian Peninsula and Red Sea
U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress strategic bombers from the 69th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron at Minot Air Force Base have returned to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility, conducting multiple missions over the Arabian Peninsula and the Red Sea without landing. The operation is part of U.S. Strategic Command's ongoing Bomber Task Force (BTF) mission series. The BTF missions are designed to project long-range strike capabilities through the Air Force Global Strike Command's bomber fleet, which includes the B-1B Lancer, B-2 Spirit, and B-52 Stratofortress. These missions provide a visible deterrence presence while reinforcing U.S. military readiness in key regions. In addition to deterrence, these bombers have played a crucial role in U.S. strike operations against Iranian-affiliated militia groups over the past year. Notably, the U.S. deployed B-1B bombers to conduct strikes on 85 targets in Syria and Iraq following the deaths of three American soldiers at Tower 22. The first B-2 stealth bomber strikes against Houthi-controlled facilities in Yemen took place in October 2024, while a non-routine 45-day deployment of B-52s in late 2024 supported various operational and training missions across the region. Bomber Task Force missions highlight the U.S. military's capability to rapidly deploy combat power worldwide and integrate operations with Coalition and regional partner forces. These strategic missions reinforce U.S. Central Command's commitment to maintaining security and stability in the region.
