The Municipal Water Authority in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, has reported that an Iranian-backed cyber group compromised their water system on Saturday.
Mathew Mottes, the Aliquippa’s Chairman of the Municipal Water Authority, stated that the group had hacked one of their booster stations. Penn Live reported that the hackers could deactivate a pump supplying drinking water to Raccoon and Potter Townships in Beaver County.
The monitor displayed a message that read “You have been hacked. Down with Israel. Every equipment ‘made with Israel’ is Cyber Av3ngers legal target.”
Authorities assure residents that the water is safe to drink and confirm that no access was granted to anything within the water treatment plant.
Per CBS:
The Municipal Water Authority of Aliquippa said on Saturday that one of their booster stations had been hacked by an Iranian-backed cyber group.
Matthew Mottes, the chairman of the board of directors for the Municipal Water Authority of Aliquippa, confirmed to KDKA-TV that the cyber group, known as Cyber Av3ngers, took control of one of the stations. An alarm went off as soon as the hack had occurred.
Mottes added that the station, located on the outskirts of town, monitors and regulates pressure for Raccoon and Potter Townships and stressed that there is no known risk to the drinking water or water supply.
The machine that was hacked uses a system called Unitronics, which Mottes says is software or has components that are Israeli-owned.
U.S. Representative Chris Deluzio (D-PA) is closely monitoring the recent cyberattack on the Municipal Water Authority of Aliquippa. His office is in contact with its leadership, who have confirmed there has been no loss of water service to customers.
He stated, “Federal officials are assisting the investigation, and I remain ready to help with federal agencies.
Attacks on our critical infrastructure like water are unacceptable.”
Federal officials are assisting the investigation, and I remain ready to help with federal agencies.
Attacks on our critical infrastructure like water are unacceptable.
— Congressman Chris Deluzio (@RepDeluzio) November 26, 2023
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