US Critical Infrastructure Prepares for Potential Iran Cyberattack Surge

Experts warn that the United States faces a heightened threat of significant cyberattacks from Iran amid escalating tensions with Israel. Dr. Eric Cole, a former CIA hacker, predicts a massive cyberattack within 30 days, highlighting Iran's advanced cyber capabilities, which include repurposing U.S. intelligence tools originally used against them. Theresa Payton, former White House CIO, emphasizes Iran's established history of cyberattacks targeting political campaigns, financial institutions, and critical infrastructure, raising concerns about potential high-impact strikes against the U.S. energy grid and other vital systems. Iranian officials have issued warnings that U.S. involvement with Israel could trigger all-out regional war, increasing the likelihood of cyber retaliation. In response, U.S. critical infrastructure sectors—including water, electricity, and transportation—are ramping up security measures, although no major new cyber incidents have been publicly reported yet. The current situation reflects serious concerns about preparedness and coordination between federal agencies and infrastructure operators as the conflict intensifies.