Russian-backed Hackers Cause Water Tank Overflow in Texas, Linked to Cyber Attack – Report

Russian-backed hackers target Texas water systems, causing overflow in Muleshoe

In a shocking turn of events, a water tank in Muleshoe, Texas, overflowed after a cyber attack in January, with a new report linking the incident to hackers backed by the Russian government.

City officials in Muleshoe were alerted to the overflowing water tank on Jan. 18, which was caused by a software hack leading to a system malfunction, according to City Manager Ramon Sanchez. Nearby water systems in Abernathy and Hale Center were also targeted by hackers, but Hale Center managed to prevent any damage by taking its systems offline upon learning about the Muleshoe attack. Lockney also experienced water issues that day and took precautions as a result.

A report released by U.S. cybersecurity firm Mandiant on Wednesday connected the cyber attack to hacking groups with ties to the Russian government. The hackers claimed responsibility for the Muleshoe attack in a channel on the social media platform Telegram, where they posted videos showing users interfering with online water system controls in Muleshoe and Abernathy. While Mandiant has not independently confirmed the authenticity of the videos, they were posted around the time of the Muleshoe attack.

Muleshoe has since replaced the hacked software and secured its network, with the FBI launching an investigation into the incident. Fortunately, drinking water was not affected by the cyber attack, according to Sanchez.

In response to the growing threat of cyber attacks on water systems, the White House and the Environmental Protection Agency urged U.S. governors in March to strengthen their defenses against such attacks. They emphasized the potential for these attacks, whether carried out by countries or criminals, to disrupt the critical lifeline of clean and safe drinking water.

The incident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities of critical infrastructure to cyber threats and the importance of bolstering cybersecurity measures to protect essential services.