Banks or power grids: Iran may take revenge on Suleiman's assassination in cyber attacks
Experts believe Tehran will try to exploit the virtual battlefield to attack the United States, because their power relations are more equal. It may attack vital infrastructure and launch a network disinformation campaign
Banks or power grids: Iran may take revenge on Suleiman's assassination in cyber attacks
Photo: Reuters, Edit: Shaul AdamIran may take revenge on Quds Force commander General Qassem Suleimani's assassination through cyber attacks - security experts told Guardian, who warned that fighting behind the shadows over the past decade could turn into a real cyber war.
It is estimated that the response may be in violation of essential infrastructure in the United States, such as power grids, healthcare institutions, banks, and communications networks. Iran has invested a lot of resources in strengthening its cyber capabilities since 2010, the Stoxnet virus - which, according to various reports, was developed by Israel and the United States - was found to hit its nuclear program severely. It has already attacked US banks and a small dam, with the United States conducting cyber attacks against an Iranian intelligence agency and missile launchers.
"We've seen some espionage and some sabotage, but we haven't seen it turn into bloodshed," said Professor Josephine Wolf, a cyber security expert at Tufts University. "Can they hurt the electricity grid of a large part of the population? The way they talk now, it sounds like if they have such capabilities, this is the moment when they might consider using them."
Shi'ite protesters in Kashmir, yesterday (Photo: AP)
Kashmir rally against US and Israel following Qassam Suleimani's assassination, January 3, 2020 (Photo: AP)
She said that even though cyber attacks have been used as a means to lower tensions because they are non-violent, the Suleimani elimination may change this pattern. "Because the first response from the United States was not a cyber-attack, it is difficult to say what the proportional response will be," she said. "We don't have many norms in this area."
John Holtkeist, head of intelligence at FireEye Cyber Security, expects Iran to focus on the private sector. "We don't think they have the ability to manipulate systems, they are more likely to be able to widely erase systems and paralyze everything."
The Iranian revenge may be reminiscent of the 2017 WannaCry ransom attack, which was attributed to North Korea and was able to briefly paralyze Britain's health care system. Wolfe estimates that Iran already has a "foothold" in certain US systems, which allows it to attack even today if it chooses to do so. She said her cyber capabilities are less sophisticated than those of China and Russia, but similar to those of North Korea - making her a "pretty serious enemy".
According to Holtkist, the cyber realm balances the power relations between Iran and the United States. "That's why they choose an asymmetric battlefield. We may have a big advantage with a very sophisticated ability, but we also have a very sophisticated company, so we're very vulnerable to cyber attacks." He expects Tehran to focus on disrupting public order rather than financial harm. "The goal will be to show their determination," he said.
More in Walla! NEWS More in Walla! NEWSSuleimani liquidation: "His body was torn apart, only detected by the ring that he wore"
To the full articleThe opposite cyber battles turn into a war. Trump, yesterday (Photo: Reuters)
US President Donald Trump at a First Press Conference Following the Elimination of Iranian Quds Force Commander Kasem Suleimani in Baghdad. January 03, 2020. (Photo: Reuters)
Experts also believe that Iran will launch a disinformation campaign on social networks. Facebook and Twitter have removed thousands of accounts from Iran in recent years due to the propaganda of false propaganda.
Cindy Otis, a former CIA agent and false news expert, said that in the hours following the Sulimani assassination, Twitter accounts released false allegations of bombing a U.S. base in Iraq, accompanied by old videos.
"Iran is very experienced in using propaganda in its territory. The development we are witnessing now is that it is changing its capabilities to overwhelm foreign audiences with disinformation," she said. “It just accelerates development.
In addition, Iran is expected to accelerate its intelligence gathering efforts. In October, Microsoft disclosed that it had detected attempts by Iranian hackers to infiltrate President Donald Trump's reelection campaign.
