DHS Sounds Alarm: Pro-Iranian Hackers Pose Elevated Cyber Threat to U.S. Networks After Nuclear Strikes

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a stark warning regarding an elevated threat of cyberattacks targeting U.S. networks. This comes in the wake of recent U.S. military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, escalating tensions and prompting concerns about retaliatory actions from pro-Iranian hackers and state-affiliated cyber actors.

Heightened Cyber Threat After U.S. Strikes

Following U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities on June 21, 2025, the DHS released a National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) bulletin. The advisory, effective through September 22, 2025, indicates a "heightened threat environment" within the United States. The strikes, described by President Trump as a "spectacular military success," aimed to dismantle Iran's nuclear enrichment capabilities.

• Low-level cyberattacks by pro-Iranian hacktivists are anticipated.

• Cyber actors affiliated with the Iranian government may conduct more significant attacks against U.S. networks.

• The advisory also warns of potential physical attacks, particularly if Iranian leadership issues a religious ruling calling for retaliatory violence.

Iran's Cyber Capabilities and Past Activities

Iranian cyber actors have a history of targeting U.S. networks and critical infrastructure. The DHS bulletin highlights that both hacktivist and government-affiliated groups routinely exploit poorly secured U.S. networks and internet-connected devices for disruptive cyberattacks.

• February 2025: The U.S. sanctioned six senior officials of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Cyber-Electronic Command (IRGC-CEC) for cyberattacks on an Israeli manufacturer of programmable logic controllers (PLCs) used in water systems.

• October 2024: Australian, Canadian, and U.S. intelligence agencies warned of a year-long Iranian campaign using brute force and other techniques to compromise organizations across multiple critical infrastructure sectors.

• 2024 U.S. Presidential Election: Iranian state-backed actors targeted candidates, including a hack of one of Trump's campaign websites, to sow discord and access sensitive data.

Preparing for Potential Attacks

Cybersecurity experts emphasize the importance of vigilance for U.S. organizations. While Iranian disruptive cyberattacks have had mixed results, their impact on individual enterprises can be severe.

• Organizations should implement cybersecurity best practices, similar to those used to prevent ransomware.

• Individuals associated with Iran policy should be wary of social engineering schemes targeting organizational and personal accounts.

• The DHS recommends staying informed through local authorities and reporting suspicious activity to law enforcement.

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Sources

• US Warns of Heightened Risk of Iranian Cyber-Attacks After Military St, Infosecurity Magazine.

• DHS Threat Bulletin Warns of Cyberattack Risks | UKNIP, UK News in Pictures.

• US warns of looming Iranian cyber threat to US networks and extremist violence after strikes, Mint.

• DHS: Iran maintains a robust cyber program and can execute cyber-attacks against the US, ZDNET.

• DHS expects Iran’s cyber forces will target US networks after strikes on nuclear sites, Nextgov.