British Reports: Unprecedented "Iranian" Cyberattack Targets Power Grid, Disrupts Generation Plant

British media reported Saturday evening that hackers, believed to be Iranian, launched an unprecedented cyberattack targeting the United Kingdom's electricity grid. Reports noted a British power generation plant ceased operations for four days following the attack. This incident, which reportedly occurred last month, is considered the first time Iranian-linked hackers successfully disrupted a critical British facility. According to sources, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), part of the British intelligence agency GCHQ, was notified. The NCSC is responsible for serious cyber incident response affecting UK institutions. In response, the British government issued clarifying statements and advice to energy companies. A government spokesperson stated: "The UK has a highly resilient energy system, and we work closely with the energy sector to protect infrastructure and ensure the highest security standards." He added: "This incident affected a small power generator and posed no threat to the energy system as a whole." Dr. Richard Horne, head of the NCSC, had earlier warned that most nationally significant cyberattacks on Britain are by hostile states. He explained the Centre handles about four such attacks weekly, urging companies to prepare defenses without paying ransoms, stressing the UK could face widespread targeting if involved in international conflict. Past cyberattacks have caused serious repercussions for major British firms, including Jaguar, Land Rover, and Co-op. Since then, the British Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) has planned an AI-powered cyber shield, believed to be a global first. Expected within five years, this system will use AI to monitor threats against critical national infrastructure, airlines, telecommunications, and other major corporations to prevent future attacks.