Iranian hackers likely to target US networks following air strikes, Homeland Security warns

What just happened? The Iranian government has been behind several cyberattacks on US organizations over the years. Now, the Department of Homeland Security has warned of an increased threat of both and cyberattacks and physical attacks from the nation following the US strikes on its nuclear facilities over the weekend.

Homeland Security has warned that low-level cyberattacks against US networks by pro-Iranian hacktivists and cyber actors affiliated with the Iranian government are likely.

The advisory adds that the likelihood of extremists in Iran independently mobilizing to violence in response to the conflict would likely increase if Iranian leadership issued a religious ruling calling for retaliatory violence against American targets.

The DHS notes that both hacktivists and Iranian government-affiliated actors routinely target poorly secured US networks and internet-connected devices for disruptive cyberattacks.