Iranian Hackers Hit 30 Minnesota Water Systems, Exposing Flaws Across 7 States
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Aug 10
Iranian Hackers Hit 30 Minnesota Water Systems, Exposing Flaws Across 7 States
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 10
Summary
More than 30 community water systems in Minnesota were targeted in late July, with some utilities switching to manual operations and backup procedures after hackers hit computerized controls.
FBI investigators suspect Iranian-affiliated actors, but early signs indicate they exploited basic weaknesses—internet-exposed operational technology, default access points and unpatched systems—rather than advanced tools.
A 2024 EPA inspector general review found critical or high-risk cyber vulnerabilities at 97 drinking-water systems serving 26.6 million people, while 211 systems serving 82.7 million had externally visible portals.
Nearly 170,000 U.S. water and wastewater systems make up the sector, many running aging equipment with limited cyber staffing, leaving essential services vulnerable to disruption and potential physical damage.