Iran-Linked Hackers Target US Industrial Sites, Attempt To Erase Data; FBI Issues Urgent Warning

Last Updated:April 08, 2026, 12:47 IST

Iran-linked cyberattacks on US industrial facilities signal an expansion of Tehran’s asymmetric strategy amid ongoing regional tensions, according to a report.

Iran-linked hackers have successfully targeted and disrupted multiple US oil, gas and water facilities in recent weeks, according to a federal advisory cited by CNN, marking a significant escalation in cyber activity linked to the ongoing US-Israeli war with Iran.

The hacking campaign tested safety systems designed to protect human life at industrial plants.

Sources familiar with the investigation said some industrial processes were forced offline and had to be manually operated, resulting in operational disruptions and financial losses.

The FBI, the Department of Homeland Security’s cyber agency and other authorities issued an urgent warning Tuesday to infrastructure operators, saying the activity appeared aimed at causing “disruptive effects within the United States," the report mentioned.

According to sources cited by the network, hackers have in some instances attempted to deploy destructive malware, known as “wipers," designed to erase company data, though it remains unclear whether those efforts were successful.

Officials say cyber operations offer Tehran an opportunity to respond asymmetrically to military pressure, particularly as Iranian missile capabilities do not currently extend to the US homeland.

SAFETY RISKS RAISE ALARM AMONG CYBER EXPERTS

The hackers have reportedly targeted internet-facing programmable logic controllers, devices that enable machinery to communicate within industrial environments worldwide.

Joe Slowik, director of cybersecurity alerting strategy at Dataminr, warned the activity could pose real-world safety risks.

“That opens up the opportunity not just for immediate disruption, but potentially modification of operating parameters that could impact physical operations," Slowik said.

“The latter could lead to physical impacts and safety concerns, which is a serious issue and represents a notable extension of adversary capability and intent" from previous activity linked to Iranian hackers, he added, according to the report.

One source familiar with the federal investigation said vulnerabilities in connected industrial systems have long been highlighted by experts.

“Government and experts have been warning about internet-connected systems for years, and how vulnerable they are," the source said, noting that companies that followed security guidance had already removed high-risk systems.

The concern, the source added, is for critical infrastructure operators that have not taken similar precautions.

CYBER OPERATIONS ADD TO BROADER IRAN RESPONSE

The report mentioned that Iranian cyber activity has ranged from symbolic to disruptive in recent weeks.

Tehran-linked hackers last month leaked emails stolen from the private account of FBI Director Kash Patel and previously disrupted business for a major US medical device manufacturer.

The cyber operations often include a psychological component, with hackers publicly boasting online about their activities and exaggerating their impact.

US intelligence agencies warned in their annual worldwide threat assessment released in March that Iran continues to show intent to conduct cyber operations against the United States and its allies despite setbacks during the 2025 conflict with Israel.

CEASEFIRE AMID CONTINUING STRATEGIC TENSIONS

The cyber developments come as Iran, the United States, and Israel agreed to a two-week ceasefire, though differences remain over the scope and implementation of the agreement.

US President Donald Trump pulled back from threats to destroy Iranian “civilisation," while indicating American warships would remain near the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime route through which about 20 per cent of global oil and gas flows during peacetime.

Iran has signalled it may continue uranium enrichment and could charge transit fees on vessels passing through the strait, raising concerns among Gulf Arab states and global markets.

“Big money will be made. Iran can start the reconstruction process," Trump said on social media.

Israel backed the US ceasefire with Iran, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated the agreement would not halt Israeli operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon, contradicting statements from Pakistan, which had said the ceasefire covered the fighting there.

Missile alerts were issued across parts of the Gulf region following the ceasefire announcement, including in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait.

A gas processing facility in Abu Dhabi was reported ablaze after an incoming Iranian fire.

KEY ISSUES REMAIN UNRESOLVED

Despite the ceasefire, major disagreements remain over Iran’s nuclear programme, regional proxy groups and sanctions relief.

Iran has demanded the withdrawal of US forces, lifting of sanctions and release of frozen assets as part of any broader settlement, according to AP, conditions that appear unlikely to be accepted by Washington or its allies.

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