Not just Minnesota: Hackers targeted municipal water systems in 7 states, FBI says

Cyberattacks targeting municipal water systems have been reported in seven states this week, and the FBI and Environmental Protection Agency are warning utilities to beef up their cybersecurity systems. 

The agencies, which didn't say in which states the municipalities are located, said that some of the malicious activity has impacted water operations in those municipalities that were struck. 

Earlier this week, 30 Minnesota towns and cities were hit by a "coordinated cyberattack." 

The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) issued an advisory on Thursday, warning that Iranian-affiliated hackers were attacking critical infrastructure, including water and wastewater systems. The advisory stresses the importance of "restricting direct internet access." It said that some of the larger attacks on water systems resulted in boil-water notices and "sustained manual operations." 

Speaking to reporters at Camp David on Friday, Trump denied Iran is behind the attacks and blamed Minnesota's leadership and Gov. Tim Walz. 

"Because they’re grossly incompetent. I would blame it on Minnesota and the governor, the corrupt governor of Minnesota. They like to say, ‘Oh, it’s Iran.’ Iran should be so lucky. Iran’s got bigger problems than worrying about Minnesota," Trump said, NBC News reported. 

Cybersecurity expert, Morgan Wright, National Center for Open and Unsolved Cases founder, told the Hill that she believes Iran is behind the hacking. She pointed to the CISA advisory as one indication that Iran is behind the hacking. While the U.S. controls the land and sea, cyberspace is an area where Iran can "punch at or above their weight," she said.