Several U.S. agencies warned Monday that hackers affiliated with Iran may still target U.S. entities and networks despite the current ceasefire between Israel and Iran. <\/p>\n
Defense companies tied to Israeli research and defense firms face an \u201cincreased risk,\u201d the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center, and National Security Agency noted.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cDespite a declared ceasefire and ongoing negotiations towards a permanent solution, Iranian-affiliated cyber actors and hacktivist groups may still conduct malicious cyber activity,\u201d they wrote in a joint bulletin<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n The agencies underscored that Iranian hackers often exploit \u201ctargets of opportunity,\u201d including the use of unpatched or outdated software and default or common passwords on devices connected to the internet. <\/p>\n They urged operators and owners of critical infrastructure, as well as other U.S. entities, to take steps to strengthen their cybersecurity, such as disconnecting certain systems from the public internet, updating passwords, adding multifactor authentication and applying software patches. <\/p>\n The Department of Homeland Security previously warned<\/a> about the potential for\u00a0\u201clow-level\u201d cyberattacks against U.S. networks after President Trump ordered strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites earlier this month. \u00a0<\/p>\n