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Former NATO hacker Candan Bolukbas warns that Iranian cyber threats are becoming more potent as tensions escalate between Iran and its adversaries, particularly Israel, highlighting the need for heightened security measures worldwide.
In a recent interview, former NATO hacker Candan Bolukbas highlighted Iran's escalating cyber threats, posing significant risks to global security. Bolukbas warned that Iranian hackers will continue to attack and disrupt targets, including supply chains, as soon as they become aware of vulnerabilities. Iran's focus on targeting supply chain networks poses a challenge for American network defenders, who must respond quickly to protect their systems. Bolukbas cited Russia's past cyber operations against Ukraine as a precedent for Iranian cyber attacks, which may involve hack-and-leaks and cyber espionage. The US possesses the largest zero-day arsenal and has developed a doctrine called "defense forward" to respond proactively to emerging threats.
In a recent interview, former NATO hacker Candan Bolukbas shed light on the escalating cyber tensions between Iran and its adversaries, particularly Israel. As the conflict escalates, experts warn that Iran's cyber arms are becoming increasingly potent, posing significant threats to global security.
Bolukbas, chief technology officer and founder of Black Kite, a cyber-risk intelligence firm, emphasized that the concept of "ceasefire" holds no relevance in the cyber domain. According to him, Iranian hackers will continue to attack and disrupt targets, including supply chains, as soon as they become aware of vulnerabilities.
One area of concern is Iran's focus on targeting supply chain networks. Bolukbas pointed out that while it's challenging to breach high-profile organizations directly, Iranian groups can exploit weaknesses in the supply chain, leaving American network defenders scrambling to respond quickly.
The former NATO hacker highlighted a notable example from Russia's past cyber operations against Ukraine, where Russian cyberspies compromised Western logistics firms and tech companies. They also breached internet-connected cameras at Ukrainian border crossings to track aid shipments and targeted industrial control system components for railway management.
In contrast, Iran is not likely to launch sophisticated attacks on the NSA or Pentagon unless Russia or China provides them with zero-day exploits or access. Instead, Bolukbas suspects that Iranian cyber operatives will engage in hack-and-leaks, poking holes in Iran's military and cyber infrastructure, as well as conducting cyber espionage operations.
Stuxnet, a malware deployed against Iran's nuclear fuel centrifuges during the Obama administration, serves as a precedent for these cyber operations. The US Joint Special Operations Command collaborated with Israel on this operation, highlighting the potential for similar collaborations between nations in response to emerging threats.
Bolukbas also stressed that the United States possesses the largest zero-day arsenal and has developed a doctrine called "defense forward." According to him, if they identify any disruptions in cyberspace, US Cyber Command will respond proactively by launching countermeasures against potential threats.
In conclusion, as tensions escalate between Iran and its adversaries, the world must acknowledge the growing threat posed by Iranian cyber arms. The former NATO hacker's warnings underscore the need for increased vigilance and proactive measures to protect global networks from these increasingly sophisticated attacks.
Related Information:
https://www.ethicalhackingnews.com/articles/Irans-Cyber-Arms-A-New-Frontier-in-the-Israel-Iran-Conflict-ehn.shtml
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2025/06/28/exnato_hacker_ceasefire_iran/
Published: Sat Jun 28 09:36:11 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
