Hackers linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) disabled a power station in the United Kingdom during an unprecedented cyberattack, The Telegraph reported on Saturday, August 22. According to the publication, this is the first instance where Iranian hackers have managed to halt the operation of such a facility in the United Kingdom. ## ## The Power Station Was Inoperative for Four Days British authorities did not specify which power station was affected for security reasons, but it was reported that the facility was non-operational for four days while staff attempted to restore its functionality. The power station was relatively small, so the outage did not impact the overall power supply system or electricity generation in the UK. The likely goal of the attack was not to cause actual harm to the civilian population, but to demonstrate that hackers associated with the Iranian regime are capable of accessing British systems and disabling critical infrastructure, The Telegraph writes. Following the incident, the British government held a briefing for energy company executives and sent letters to businesses with recommendations and a plan for further actions to protect energy systems. The incident was also reported to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), which engages with the public and provides companies with guidance on protecting national infrastructure from external threats. ## ## Series of Cyberattacks on Water Supply Facilities in the U.S. According to The Telegraph, the incident occurred simultaneously with a series of cyberattacks on water supply facilities in the U.S. in July. At that time, attackers disabled dozens of treatment plants in 12 states, leading to flooding and a drop in pressure in the water supply network. In some regions, residents were advised to boil water before consumption. Iran has significantly ramped up cyberattacks on Western countries since the U.S. and Israel began airstrikes on its territory in February. Reports of alleged attacks from Iran have come from Germany, Poland, Finland, Belgium, and Albania, but the most frequent targets remain Israel and other countries in the Middle East.