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Iranian APTs increased activity against US industries in late spring, researchers say
Nozomi Networks recorded 28 Iran-linked attacks on US customers in May-June, up 133%, mostly hitting transportation and manufacturing.
Nozomi Networks telemetry showed 28 Iran-linked attacks against customers in May and June versus 12 in the prior two months, a 133% increase focused on transportation and manufacturing. MuddyWater was the most active group, targeting at least five US companies, followed by APT33 with at least three; OilRig, CyberAv3ngers, FoxKitten and Homeland Justice were also active. In a separate report, Morphisec said Fox Kitten is recruiting ransomware affiliates with an 80% share of proceeds for attacks against Iran's adversaries, including the US and Israel. The activity comes amid heightened concerns over Iranian cyber retaliation after US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
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US sanctions Iranian cyber actors as UK discloses power plant attack
US Treasury sanctioned six Iranian MOIS-linked hackers for breaching US agency and UN email accounts as the UK disclosed a four-day power plant shutdown.
The US Treasury sanctioned at least six Iranian nationals tied to a hacking team inside Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) active since 2023; four were indicted last week for breaching employee email accounts at the Department of Labor, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and United Nations organizations. Treasury said the group compromised energy, defense, healthcare, IT and financial sector targets, multiple US government offices in summer 2024, and stole cryptocurrency for personal gain. Separately, Iranian actors reportedly shut down a small British power plant for four days without grid impact, days after FBI and NSA warned of hackers targeting programmable logic controllers in energy, water and agriculture.
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