Iran-linked hackers breach major California water utility

An Iran-linked hacking group called Handala breached the systems of California Water Service, one of the largest private water utilities in the U.S., and leaked 5GB of sensitive data. The attackers accessed customer billing databases and an internal GPS-based RTKBase system used by field crews, exposing names, addresses, phone numbers, account details, and full network infrastructure for seven California districts. The group claims it could have disrupted water access for millions but chose not to, framing the attack as retaliation for U.S. military actions in Iran. Security analysts warn that Handala has a history of escalating from data theft to destructive attacks, making this breach a serious threat to critical infrastructure. The incident highlights ongoing warnings from U.S. agencies about Iranian targeting of water systems, and affected customers now face heightened phishing and fraud risks.

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