June 17, 2016
According to a federal indictment announced March 24, 2016, seven attackers with links to the Iranian government executed cyberattacks against dozens of banks from 2011 to 2013 that disabled their websites and interfered with hundreds of thousands of customers’ ability to access their online accounts.
Public announcements of cyber incidents against the financial system allegedly carried out by foreign actors are undoubtedly areas for concern. However, this announcement included an unusual twist that warrants potentially even greater worry: The attackers also targeted a small dam near New York City.
One of the alleged attackers is accused of repeatedly gaining access to the control system of the Bowman Avenue Dam, a small flood-control structure in Rye Brook, about 20 miles north of New York City, through a cable modem.
