Iran-Linked Hackers Shut Down UK Power Plant for Four Days

The UK briefed energy chiefs following reports of an Iran-linked cyber attack. Iranian hackers shut down a small-scale British power plant for four days in July.

The incident marks the first time Iran-linked hackers successfully shut down such a British facility. British officials refused to disclose which facility was affected, citing security concerns. A spokesperson for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero stated the attack impacted a small-scale energy generator, posing no risk to the wider energy system. A government source described the site as very small scale, less than a rounding error compared to grid capacity.

The attack occurred alongside a series of attacks on US water infrastructure last month, affecting at least 12 states. US authorities, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, warned about malicious cyber actors targeting water facilities across at least seven states, with CISA, FBI, and EPA blaming Iran. CBS News cited sources saying more than 30 community water systems were impacted, possibly linked to Iran-backed hackers. Some US utilities lost critical remote-control capabilities, forcing operators to switch to manual mode. It is also updating its cybersecurity regulations.