Hackers linked to Iran forced a British power plant offline for four days in what is being described as one of the most concerning cyberattacks of its kind, according to a report.
The incident, reported in July, is believed to be the first publicly known case in which Iranian hackers successfully shut down a power-generation facility in Britain, The Telegraph reported.
Officials said the target was an unidentified small-scale power generator. The cyberattack did not pose a risk to the UK’s broader electricity supply, according to British authorities.
The breach was referred to the National Cyber Security Centre, known as the NCSC, which is the public-facing arm of GCHQ, The Telegraph reported.
Although limited in scale, the attack triggered serious concern across Britain’s energy sector. Authorities have since warned industry leaders about the rising threat posed by Iran-linked cyber groups.
Earlier this year, the NCSC urged companies to strengthen their defenses against possible cyberattacks from groups connected to Iran, as tensions intensified between Tehran, the United States and allied nations.
The British power plant incident comes amid a wider wave of cyberattacks targeting water infrastructure in the United States, affecting at least 12 states. In Minnesota, officials accused Iran of being behind brief automated shutdowns and several boil-water notices.
The UK government has warned that cyberattacks on domestic infrastructure remain a significant national security risk, particularly as artificial intelligence allows malicious actors to launch attacks more quickly and with less effort.
But British officials reassure that the country’s energy system remains highly resilient and that the government is working closely with industries to tighten defense.
“The UK has a highly resilient energy system. We work closely with the energy sector to protect infrastructure and ensure the highest security standards,” a government spokesman told The Telegraph.
