Cyberattacks Target Water Systems in at Least Seven US States
2 sources · Brazil
Who reported this
- UOL
- Folha de S.Paulo
What the colours mean
- Left
- Centre-left
- Centre
- Centre-right
- Right
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Every source for this story reports from Brazil.
Cyberattacks have targeted water supply systems in at least seven US states, including Minnesota and Michigan, according to authorities and experts. While there is no evidence that water supplies were altered or made unsafe for consumption, local and state authorities are on high alert regarding vulnerable computers used to monitor water pressure and chemical treatment levels. Federal authorities and experts state that Iran is the primary suspect, noting that the lack of financial motivation makes criminal activity less likely. This assessment aligns with a memorandum obtained by Wired magazine, which linked the attacks to Iranian affiliated actors.
President Donald Trump sought to minimize the situation on Friday, stating that he believed Minnesota was behind the incidents rather than Iran. Tim Walz, the Democratic governor of Minnesota, rejected this claim and described the attacks as an example of modern warfare. Nate George, the Republican mayor of Braham, Minnesota, stated that the FBI and state authorities have expressed significant confidence that Iranian actors are responsible, though they have been reluctant to state this publicly.
Federal authorities clarified that while Iran remains the main suspect, the investigation is preliminary and definitive forensic proof has not yet been established. This is described as common for complex cyber investigations. The FBI and the Environmental Protection Agency confirmed the scope of the attacks in a public statement issued Thursday night.
How each side framed it
- Centre-left
- The center-left lean outlet framed the event as a critical infrastructure vulnerability and emphasized the tension between the executive branch and state officials.
- Centre
- The center lean outlet presented the events as a security threat and highlighted the contradiction between intelligence assessments and the president's claims.
Sources
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