An announcement from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on SundayIt said that in the context of the ongoing conflicts between the United States and Israel and Iran, hackers supported by the Iranian government are expected to launch attacks on U.S. networks. The National Terrorism Early Warning System announced that,Hacking activitiesMolecules "may" launch low-level cyberattacks, it added, adding that hacktivists and government-affiliated hackers "routinely" attack less secure U.S. networks and internet-connected devices, causing damage.
The announcement comes days after the United States and Israel launched a series of air strikes against Iran's nuclear program. At the same time, a pro-Israel hacker group called Predatory Sparrow also launched destructive hacking attacks. Hackers have attacked one of Iran's top banks and stolen millions of dollars in cryptocurrency held by the country's largest cryptocurrency exchange.
After Israel launched its first round of air strikes, the Iranian government confirmed that it had shut down the country's Internet to prevent cyber attacks.
Iran is known for its offensive cyber capabilities, including a long-running espionage campaign targeting senior U.S. politicians and government officials, as well as destructive cyberattacks aimed at stealing data from businesses and tech giants, often exploiting known vulnerabilities or stolen passwords.