Iran-linked cyberattacks threaten equipment used in U.S. water systems and factories

This photo provided by the Municipal Water Authority of Aliquippa shows the screen of a Unitronics device that was hacked in Aliquippa, Pa., on Nov. 25.

An Iran-linked hacking group is “actively targeting and compromising” multiple U.S. facilities for using an Israeli-made computer system, U.S. cybersecurity officials say.

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) said on Friday that the hackers, known as “CyberAv3ngers,” have been infiltrating video screens with the message “You have been hacked, down with Israel. Every equipment ‘made in Israel’ is CyberAv3ngers legal target.”

The cyberattacks have spanned multiple states, CISA said. While the equipment in question, “Unitronics Vision Series programmable logic controllers,” is predominately used in water and wastewater systems, companies in energy, food and beverage manufacturing, and health care are also under threat.