There is no commodity more precious than water and that is precisely where some hackers have been operating. This week, the United States government warned that there are malicious agents carrying out attacks on the country's water and sewage systems.
According to Reuters, the attacks could be being carried out by Iranians and Chinese. The administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Michael Regan, says that this is not an isolated case. Supposedly, the same authors have already deactivated a controller for a water installation in the city of Pennsylvania.
In addition to these, the Americans also identify a Chinese hacker group, the “Volt Typhoon”, as a threat. The document issued this week by US authorities states that the group “compromised the information technology of several critical infrastructure systems, including drinking water, in the United States and its territories” (via Reuters).
In the letter issued by Regan and Jake Sullivan, national security advisor, they made clear how damaging the attack could be. They themselves assure that attacks can “impose significant costs” on the targeted communities.
Hackers attacked a water system in Pennsylvania and left a provocative message
Illustrative Image (via Copilot AI)
On the matter, both China and Iran deny any type of involvement. Remember that the safety of water stations has been a cause for concern in recent times. In the previously mentioned attack, in Pennsylvania, hackers even left a provocation. “You have been hacked”, could be read on the system.
In a practical sense, the population did not suffer directly from these attacks. However, as Reuters points out, permanent vigilance is necessary, as the Center for Analysis and Information Sharing on Water fears that more similar cases may arise.
In the letter issued by Jake Sullivan and Michael Regan, a request is made to the government. These ask that the United States regularly assess the country's cybersecurity. They also ask that the country prepares for possible future events that put water systems at risk.