US And Israel Should Prepare For Destructive Iranian Cyberattacks, Ex-Intel Officer Says
ForbesJUN 23
US Warns of Iranian Cyber Threats Despite Israel Ceasefire
Above: The flag of Iran displayed on a laptop screen and binary code displayed on a screen on Sept. 27, 2022. Image copyright: Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto/Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Iran's cyber threats remain serious and persistent despite any ceasefire agreements. These hackers have already proven their willingness to target American critical infrastructure, hitting water systems and energy facilities that serve ordinary citizens. The government's warning makes clear that defense contractors and companies with Israeli ties face heightened risks that could compromise national security.
Establishment-critical narrative
The actual cyber threat from Iran appears overblown based on recent evidence. Security researchers report seeing little sophisticated activity following major military strikes, suggesting Iran's digital capabilities may be more limited than feared. Much of the hacking appears to be basic and opportunistic attacks rather than coordinated state-sponsored operations. Stories like this prime the West for continued hostilities with Iran.
Pro-Iran narrative
The incessant clamor over a potential cyberwar with Iran masks the truth that Iran has been one of the biggest victims of cyberwarfare on the planet. The Stuxnet virus, for instance, was a jointly made U.S.-Israeli cyberweapon that decimated Iran's peaceful nuclear program by destroying centrifuges. No Iranian attack could ever match the devastation already inflicted on Iran.