As the fighting in the Middle East roars on, cyber experts are increasingly warning of online attacks from Iran on U.S. businesses and infrastructure.
“From a timing perspective, it’s now or never,” said Pavel Gurvich, founder and CEO of cybersecurity startup Tenzai. “In that sense, the danger is meaningfully higher.”
Gurvich said Iran may have stored capabilities and is waiting for a high-risk moment to launch.
Following U.S. and Israeli strikes on the region over the weekend, Iran has stepped up retaliatory strikes, hitting U.S. bases, embassies and major hubs, including Tel Aviv, Doha, and Dubai.
The looming threat of an Iran-linked cyberattack poses a critical risk to the U.S. at a time when the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the leading readiness body, is grappling with a partial government shutdown, furloughs, and a management reshuffle that could hinder its ability to counteract an attack.
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said in a statement this week that DHS is working with federal intelligence and law enforcement partners to “closely monitor and thwart” any potential U.S. threats.
The agency has reportedly lost about a third of its employees since Trump took office, and Madhu Gottumukkala, its temporary director, was reassigned to another division of DHS last week.
During Gottumukkala’s tenure, he clashed with staff and ended major contracts, Politico reported. He also came under scrutiny for uploading sensitive documents to ChatGPT and failed a polygraph test administered by CISA staff when he sought access to records.
Chief Information Officer Bob Costello announced this week on LinkedIn that he was “stepping away from federal service.” Politico previously reported that Costello had been asked to resign or accept a different position within DHS.
As of Tuesday afternoon, CISA’s website said it was last updated on Feb. 17 due to a “lapse in federal funding” and is not being actively managed.
DHS said Feb. 17 that the agency would cancel cybersecurity assessments, among other trainings and engagements.
Source: CNBC