Threat Brief: Escalation of Cyber Risk Related to Iran
1 min read
Summary
The ongoing conflict between Iran and the U.S., alongside other nations including Israel, is escalating, and the danger of cyber attacks being launched is increasing.
Iranian groups have previously targeted critical infrastructure and sensitive industries around the world, with disastrous results.
Unit 42 has found that Iranian-backed groups have been expanding their global cyber operations, including the use of generative AI for social engineering and influence operations, as well as explicitly linking destructive attacks to geopolitical events.
The firm suggests that these operations could intensify as the conflict continues, and advises customers to ensure they are protected with multiple layers of security to safeguard against the variety of tactics used.
These include targeted attacks by nation-state hackers, hacktivists disrupting attacks, cybercriminal groups launching phishing campaigns and other nation-state actors potentially carrying out false-flag operations.
Palo Alto Networks has a range of products that can protect against these threats, and its Unit 42 Incident Response team can also assist businesses to assess their vulnerabilities and respond to any cyberattacks.
