In the wake of recent military strikes by American and Israeli forces on Iranian soil, both federal and local law enforcement agencies across the United States are heightening their vigilance against potential Iranian reprisals. The primary concerns involve attacks on soft civilian targets within the U.S., often favored by lone wolves or individuals influenced by terrorist groups, alongside the looming threat of cyberattacks targeting critical American infrastructure.
Jake Braun, a former senior counselor to the Secretary of Homeland Security and now leading the Cyber Policy Initiative at the University of Chicago, has identified several potential cyber threats based on Iran’s historical tactics. “We can expect Iran to attempt four main types of cyberattacks: targeting our banking system, compromising systems integral to our oil supply, attacking critical infrastructure such as water facilities, and disseminating misinformation to disrupt elections,” Braun explained. Each of these tactics has been employed by Iran in the past, and Braun believes similar threats are likely in the future.
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Reflecting on past incidents, Braun recounted to the I-Team how his early assignments for the White House included addressing the aftermath of an Iranian cyber intrusion at a water treatment facility in Pittsburgh in 2023. “Our critical infrastructure is quite vulnerable,” Braun stressed. “Iran looks for outdated systems—those that haven’t been patched or are so old that they can no longer be updated. These are weak spots, and unfortunately, they form the backbone of much of our critical infrastructure.”
Iran’s proficiency in cyber warfare is well-documented, with its ability to create significant disruption through digital means. The United States has already experienced the extent of Iran’s cyber capabilities, with Tehran-backed hackers previously targeting sectors like banking, defense, and oil companies, particularly following major military operations such as last year’s Operation Midnight Hammer which aimed to dismantle Iranian nuclear capabilities.
The U.S. has already seen what Iran’s cyber capabilities can accomplish: a country known for its ability to sow chaos with a few strokes on a keyboard.
After Operation Midnight Hammer last year, designed to obliterate Iranian nuclear capabilities, Tehran-backed hackers targeted U.S. banks, defense contractors and oil companies.
And, Braun underscored that if they’re not, businesses should be on high alert.
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Jake Cho, a professor of Cyber Security at Lewis University, explained the concern.
“They have new AI weapons. So, the investment to the, for the secure infrastructure, there’s no finish. So, we have to assign some certain amount of budget, continuously improve the overall security control. That is only way we can reduce, manage the risk,” Cho said.
Cho said that the United States’ deep reliance on networked systems for vital industries, like telecommunications, water and power creates efficiency, but remains at risk.
“Any vulnerability in software or formula, in any type of hardware, of course, it can be additional vulnerability,” he said
In Springfield, the I-Team has seen firsthand the Statewide Terrorism and Intelligence Center, also known as STIC, working 24/7 to analyze threats, claims of bombs in public places and the ongoing risk from foreign terror groups of domestic lone wolf strikes.
“Iran and its allies have a long history of radicalizing individuals across the world, whether they be in the U.S. or Europe or elsewhere, and encouraging them to take violent action against soft targets in those countries,” Braun said
STIC does not have any specific information that any individuals, groups or sites in Illinois are being targeted for possible attacks.
Braun said the federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, known as CISA, is relaunching its “shields up” campaign, asking individuals and corporations to be hypervigilant as this war with Iran unfolds.
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