Michigan reports cyberattacks on local water systems amid national alert

Michigan is among several states reporting cyberattacks on local water systems, according to sources, following a wave of similar incidents first identified in Minnesota earlier in the week.

The Emergency Management and Homeland Security Division of the Michigan State Police received a public service announcement from the FBI warning of the cyberattacks, according to a spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. The notice was distributed statewide, and nine reports were submitted describing incidents matching the FBI's warning.

The FBI and Environmental Protection Agency issued a nationwide warning Thursday that at least seven states, along with Minnesota, had reported incidents affecting water systems. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said cyber threat actors have been targeting programmable logic controllers used to remotely monitor and control water system equipment, in some cases modifying passwords to lock out operators.

Federal officials have not publicly determined who is responsible for the attacks, though authorities have been investigating a possible connection to Iran or Iran-associated hackers.

Read the full story at abcnews.com.