Iran-linked hackers shut down UK power plant for four days — government issues warning

A cyberattack last month forced a small power plant in the United Kingdom to shut down for four days. The incident did not pose a threat to the national electricity grid, according to the government, but the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) has issued a warning to energy companies about the risks of such attacks.

The attack was carried out by hackers linked to the Iranian regime, The Telegraph reported via the BBC. Authorities and the National Cyber Security Centre, which is responsible for protecting critical infrastructure, have not disclosed details about the affected facility, citing security concerns. It is only known that the target was not a large power station but a small-scale gas generator with a capacity of about 15 MW, which was taken offline for four days.

Protecting energy supplies from cyber threats remains one of the key challenges for the UK government. New cybersecurity regulations and a fresh energy resilience strategy are currently being prepared, with the latter expected to be presented later this year.

According to the BBC, Iran has long been regarded as a state with advanced cyber capabilities. Despite expectations of attacks from Iranian state structures or affiliated groups amid the ongoing conflict with the United States this year, their activity has remained relatively low.