US water sector supplier hack draws FBI scrutiny as Iran-linked cyber concerns grow

The FBI is investigating a data breach at Micro-Comm, a small Kansas-based supplier of water utility technology, which occurred in late July. The ransomware group Barracuda claimed responsibility for the attack, posting nearly 850,000 company files online. Micro-Comm, which manufactures programmable logic controllers (PLCs) for wastewater facilities, stated the breach was a "limited malware attack" and not related to recent water system hacks. Co-owner Jim Cote said the FBI indicated it was an "opportunistic attack" and that sensitive customer data was not compromised. This incident highlights ongoing cybersecurity threats to critical infrastructure, occurring amidst a broader suspected Iranian-affiliated cyber campaign targeting PLCs in water plants across multiple US states.