U.S. Department of Homeland Security issues alert for increased cyber security risks during escalation with Iran
Following the recent U.S. military intervention connected to the Israel-Iran conflict, Iranian cyber threats have markedly escalated in 2025. These threats target U.S. and allied critical infrastructure, private businesses, and Israeli entities with broad and sophisticated cyberattack campaigns.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a warning of a higher risk of malicious cyber activity from Iran following the direct U.S. military intervention. According to Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, it is the duty of the DHS to keep the nation safe and informed, especially during times of conflict.
The operations range from DDoS attacks to data leaks and website defacement. Hackers linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps have previously targeted water utilities and other U.S. sites that were poorly configured with weak passwords and exposed to the internet.
The escalated Iranian cyber operations post-conflict have seen pro-Iran state-backed groups, proxies, and ideologically-aligned hacktivists increasing their activity. They leverage cyber for both intelligence and disruption. Critical infrastructure sectors in the U.S., such as energy, healthcare, finance, and transportation, experience attempts to disrupt operations and steal sensitive information via exploiting unpatched systems and misconfigurations.
Israeli civilian infrastructure, especially services like water and wastewater systems, faced sabotage attempts in past years with serious potential for harm. Since October 2023, attacks significantly intensified to include misinformation, phishing, and DDoS targeting the population and organizations.
Pro-Iran hacktivists conduct web defacements, DDoS campaigns, data theft and dumps, and propaganda via Telegram channels and other social media, aiming to destabilize public trust and morale in adversary countries.
Coordination among Iranian-linked groups has been evident, with state-sponsored actors and affiliated hacktivist collectives coordinating campaigns involving malware-laden phishing, information warfare, and disruptive attacks timed closely with kinetic conflict events. These operations appear well-planned and integrated with Iran’s broader military objectives.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and international partners have issued warnings recognizing the link between recent Middle East conflicts and increased Iranian cyber aggression, emphasizing the need for enhanced cybersecurity postures among allied nations and critical sectors.
John Hultquist, chief analyst at Google Threat Intelligence Group, stated that the likelihood of disruptive cyberattacks against U.S. targets by Iranian actors has increased. Hultquist also mentioned that Iran has seen mixed results with these attacks and often exaggerates the effects of its operations for maximum psychological impact.
Governors from multiple states, including Missouri and Arizona, posted about the briefing and called on local officials to remain vigilant. Secretary Noem has spoken with Governors nationwide, as well as state and local law enforcement, to ensure their partners at every level of government have the information they need to keep their communities safe.
The current status is a heightened threat environment marked by increased and coordinated Iranian cyber operations focused on disrupting critical infrastructure, stealing data, and spreading disinformation. Specific risks include networked operational technology, public service infrastructure, and information integrity in the U.S., Israel, and allied states.
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