A water tank overflowed at a Texas water treatment facility believed to be hacked by a group linked to the Russian government, according to a recent report from cyber firm Mandiant. The incident occurred in Muleshoe, Texas on Jan. 18, causing the cityâs water tank to overflow due to a system malfunction that city staff could not control. Fortunately, no service disruptions or serious damage were reported. The group responsible for the attack, known as Sandworm, has been active since 2009 and operates under various names including âFrozen Barentsâ and âAPT44.â Sandworm is reportedly sponsored by Russian military intelligence and is involved in espionage, attack, and influence operations. The group is believed to be associated with Russiaâs Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) and other pro-Russia hacktivist groups. Sandworm has the ability to direct and influence activities of other hacking groups, such as the Cyber Army of Russia, which claimed responsibility for the attack on water tanks in Muleshoe and Abernathy, Texas. The Cyber Army of Russia has also been linked to cyberattacks on water systems in Poland and France. In 2020, the Department of Justice charged six individuals allegedly connected to Sandworm with various crimes related to hacking and cyber warfare. The group’s activities were aimed at destabilizing multiple nations, including Ukraine, Georgia, and France. The DOJ also accused them of using destructive malware in their attacks. The latest report from Mandiant comes after warnings from the EPA and National Security Council about potential attacks on Americaâs water infrastructure by Chinese or Iranian hackers. State leaders were urged to remain vigilant as cyberattacks on water systems could disrupt clean and safe drinking water supplies and impose significant costs on affected communities. Drinking water and wastewater systems are particularly vulnerable to cyberattacks due to their critical infrastructure status and lack of resources for robust cybersecurity practices. Can you please rephrase this sentence?
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Russia-Linked Hackers Suspected of Attack on Texas Water Treatment Plant: Cybersecurity Firm
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