Iran-linked attack on US 'first drop of blood' as new threat grows

"The Stryker attack looks to be the first drop of blood in the water as a result of nation-state and hacktivist activity off the back of the Iran conflict. This attack confirms Western organizations are not only in the adversary's crosshairs, but the adversary can also make the shot. More shots are coming."

"When the Iranians know very well they cannot take us on head-to-head in America militarily, they're going to look for asymmetric ways to respond. Attacking American infrastructure might be one of those asymmetric vulnerabilities."

"You would hope companies in the private sector understand the evolving threat and start hardening key systems like data centers, banking networks and their cyber infrastructure. But that costs money."

An Iran-linked hacker group called Handala claimed responsibility for a cyberattack on Stryker, a major US medical technology company, disrupting thousands of employees and internal systems globally. The group described the operation as retaliation for a claimed US strike on a school in Minab. Security experts warn this attack may be the beginning of a larger campaign targeting Western organizations. Former US Assistant Secretary of State Frank A. Rose cautioned that Iranian hackers may target American infrastructure asymmetrically, including data centers, banking systems, and energy facilities. He emphasized that most US infrastructure is privately owned and lacks the security measures of national security organizations, making it vulnerable to such attacks.

Read at Mail Online