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Foreign Hackers Targeted Colorado Water Systems in August, Governor’s Office Says
State officials said the intrusions changed equipment settings and alarms, but treatment and water quality were not affected.
On Friday, Ally Sullivan, spokesperson for Colorado Governor Jared Polis, confirmed that foreign hackers breached two privately owned water utilities in late August, each serving fewer than 200 people.
Colorado joins at least a dozen states confronting cyberattacks on water system technology, following a wave of disruptions that targeted 100 water entities nationwide, according to an August 21 advisory from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency .
Hackers changed equipment settings, disabled remote access and alarms, and altered pumping cycles, Sullivan said. She reported "treatment processes and water quality were not impacted at either provider."
State officials have not identified the actors, and the FBI declined to comment on the investigation. Sullivan noted the state is aware of "ongoing efforts across the nation by an Iranian-backed group" to access water systems.
Federal agencies have warned of active cyber threats against critical infrastructure, including water systems, from Iranian-affiliated actors seeking to "cause disruptive effects within the United States." State officials are distributing new security guidance to providers.