An Israel-linked cyber hacking group claimed on Monday that it crippled 70% of gas stations across Iran in a soul-stirring cyberattack.
The threat actors claimed they attained access to the payment systems of the affected gas stations, as well as each station’s central server and management system.
Reason for Attack on Iran
A fairly known group called Gonjeshke Darande, or predatory sparrow, proclaimed that it incapacitated the majority of the gas pumps throughout Iran with a clear purpose. The cyberattack comes in retort to the aggressive movement of the Islamic Republic and its proxies in the province, the actors said in statements noted in Persian and English.
Issuing a warning, they said Iran’s leader, Khamenei “is playing with fire.” They added that the intrusion was a “taste was in store.” Afterwards, they promised further attack.
Weak Cyber Security Systems?
Iranian state media reported close to 70% of the country’s gas stations were out of service, citing a software issue as the justification and urging the public not to rush to the stations that were still operational. Notably, the country’s Oil Ministry said that more than 30% of gas stations remain in service. The country has some 33,000 gas stations.
In a statement on Telegram, Gonjeshke Darande said, as in their previous operations, they conducted the latest exploit in a controlled manner while taking measures to limit potential damage to emergency services.
Furthermore, It claimed responsibility for a cyberattack last year that forced the Iranian state-owned Khuzestan Steel Co. to halt production. A year prior, the group bullied Iran’s fuel distribution system, paralyzing gas stations across the country.
Israel normally asserts a policy of ambiguity deeming its operations against Iran, however, Israeli military reporters, who are regularly briefed off-the-record by senior Israeli officials, stoutly hinted that the Military Intelligence’s Unit 8200 was responsible for the 2022 cyberattack on the Iranian steel plant, according to a report.
