A group known as the Cyber Army of Russia Reborn (CARR) has issued a stark warning, asserting its capability to breach United States water facilities and unleash chaos. This ominous declaration was accompanied by details shared on Telegram, showcasing their control over a water tower that resulted in overflow.
Located in Muleshoe, a US drinking water facility in Texas and serving approximately 5,000 residents near the New Mexico border became a target of CARR’s hacking prowess earlier this year. The facility’s automation rendered it vulnerable, allowing CARR, allegedly supported by the Russian government, to manipulate its systems. The consequence was an hour-long overflow, prompting an emergency declaration and impacting the surrounding area reliant on this vital fresh water source.
While awaiting confirmation from the White House’s vigilance committee, if verified, this incident would mark a historic milestone as the first publicly acknowledged hack on North America’s critical infrastructure by Russia. Notably, it would follow similar cyber intrusions attributed to China and Iran.
Speculation linking CARR to the breach gains traction, with past exploits including disrupting the South Korea Olympics Opening Ceremony in 2018 and infiltrating the Chernobyl nuclear plant in 2017. The motive behind targeting water, nuclear, and power facilities remains unclear. However, security experts caution that such groups aim to exploit vulnerabilities for intelligence gathering and sow political discord domestically and internationally.
In light of these threats, stakeholders responsible for critical infrastructure must adopt proactive measures to mitigate risks and safeguard against potential disruptions.
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