American Water Works, the largest regulated water utility in the US, was hit by a cyberattack prompting the company to pause billing for its millions of customers. The company discovered unauthorized activity in its computer networks and shut down certain systems. Services will not be shut off and customers will not be charged late fees while the company works to bring its systems back online safely.
The cyberattack on American Water is part of a growing trend of cyber threats against US public utilities and infrastructure. The EPA has warned about the increasing frequency and severity of cyberattacks targeting water utilities across the country. Federal authorities, including the FBI, have expressed concerns about foreign cyber actors targeting critical infrastructure like the electric grid and transportation systems.
In recent years, there has been a significant increase in cyberattacks on companies as they rely more on digital technologies. The number of data breach victims has surpassed 1 billion for the first half of 2024, a 409% increase from the previous year. Various federal agencies have issued advisories about cyber threats from foreign groups targeting water and wastewater systems.
Cyberattacks have disrupted various industries including insurance companies, hospital systems, and car dealership software companies. Notable incidents include a Russian-linked hacking group causing a water system in Texas to overflow, and an Iranian-linked group hacking into water infrastructure in Pennsylvania. The growing threat of cyberattacks continues to pose a risk to critical infrastructure and public services in the US.
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