Foreign hackers targeted Colorado water systems in August, governor's office says

In August, foreign hackers targeted and manipulated equipment in two privately owned Colorado water systems, according to a spokesperson for Governor Jared Polis. The incidents, which occurred at utilities serving fewer than 200 people, involved altering pumping cycles and disabling remote access and alarms. Ally Sullivan, the spokesperson, stated, "no impact to public safety or water services." While the specific foreign actors were not confirmed, the governor's office is aware of an "Iranian-backed group to access drinking water and wastewater systems." These brief incidents were quickly addressed by the providers, who then alerted the state. This follows a wave of similar cyberattacks on water systems across multiple states in late August, which cybersecurity experts have linked to Iranian-backed hacking activity targeting critical infrastructure.