The Municipal Water Authority of Aliquippa recently experienced a cyberattack on one of their booster stations, following reports of a hacking incident tied to the Iranian government. According to confirmed sources, the cyber group known as Cyber Av3ngers managed to gain partial control over the station, causing disruption to the water supply in Beaver County.

Chairman Matthew Motes, representing the Municipal Water Authority, confirmed the hack and stated that the Cyber Av3ngers targeted one of the stations, leading to the shutdown of a pump on a supply line crucial for delivering drinking water from the treatment plant. An alarm promptly sounded, alerting authorities to the breach, as reported by the Beaver Countain.

In a chilling development, a message appeared on the control panel of the affected system after the hackers gained control, stating, "You have been hacked. Down with Israel. Every equipment 'made with Israel' is Cyber Av3ngers legal target." It was revealed that the hacked machine utilized a system called Unitronics, which had Israeli-owned software or components, as per KDKA.

Swift action was taken by Aliquippa municipal workers who promptly disabled the compromised system, while law enforcement authorities were called to investigate the incident. Fortunately, the hack only impacted the pump dedicated to regulating pressure in certain elevated areas of the water system, and no other parts of the treatment plant or primary network were breached, according to Motes.

"Our booster system did exactly what it was designed to do. It triggered an alarm, and we were able to regain manual control. There was never any risk to the public," reassured Motes in his interview with the outlet.

As the investigation unfolds, measures have been implemented to ensure water pressure is maintained to the affected communities, reported the Beaver Countain. While the incident has caused disruptions, it is vital to note that the hackers did not gain access to the actual water treatment plant or other critical components of the water system.

The Cyber Av3ngers, a group notorious for their activities across various countries, including Israel, has claimed responsibility for the recent hacking spree. They have been linked to multiple attacks on water treatment stations worldwide, with reports indicating at least ten incidents in Israel alone as of October 30, 2023, according to updates shared on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The incident serves as a reminder of the growing threat of cyberattacks on critical infrastructure and the importance of robust security measures to protect essential services. Authorities are working diligently to ensure the safety and integrity of the Municipal Water Authority's systems, while the investigation into the attack is ongoing.