On 12 and 13 October Iran faced its most significant cyber attacks when multiple Iranian government systems went down, according to the YouTube account of Amit Sengupta who has 1.96 million subscribers.
Iran’s judicial, legislative, fuel distribution and municipal services were hit, but of chief concern was the targeting of all Iran’s nuclear facilities. This cyber attack is being called one of the most severe assaults on Iran’s critical infrastructure.
Iran’s Supreme Council of cyber security has confirmed the attack and said that important information has also been stolen.
Sengupta has estimated that this attack on the 12th is the first phase of a prolonged conflict – a new kind of a warfare.
This attack disrupts daily life, creates chaos and panic, and sends a powerful message that the economy of a country can be destroyed very quickly.
Cyber warfare has distinct advantages: it is less visible, more deniable and can cause significant damage, without an immediate international backlash and threat of traditional military action. It keeps pressure on Iran while keeping open the possibility for further escalation.
It allows Israel to send a warning to Iran, but leaves room for further escalation should Israel so choose. “It’s a way to test limits without immediately risking a bigger conflict”.
Sengupta says that his YouTube channel is used for “precise articulation” – “making topics clear and crisper to understand”.
*On 12 October Mint, an Indian business and financial daily newspaper,”Nearly all three branches of Iran’s government – the judiciary, the legislature and the executive branch – have been hit by heavy cyberattacks, and their information stolen,” said Firouzabadi, the ex-secretary of Iran’s Supreme Council of Cyberspace, without explaining when those attacks happened.
“Our nuclear facilities have also been targeted by cyberattacks, as well as networks like fuel distribution, municipal networks, transportation networks, ports, and similar sectors. These are just part of a long list of various areas across the country that have been attacked.”
reported that Abolhassan Firouzabadi, ex-secretary of Iran’s Supreme Council of Cyberspace, was quoted by Iran International as saying that three branches of Iran’s government – judiciary, legislature and executive – were “hit by heavy cyberattacks, and their information stolen.” He also said cyberattacks also targeted nuclear facilities and other networks like fuel distribution, municipal networks, transportation networks, and ports.