Iran-Linked Hackers Shut Down Small UK Power Plant for Four Days

Hackers affiliated with Iran shut down a small British power plant for four days, according to a Telegraph report published Saturday, in what may be the first successful cyberattack of its kind against a UK facility.

No Impact on National Power Supply

British officials confirmed the outage did not affect the UK’s wider energy system, stressing that the targeted site was a small-scale generator rather than a major power station. The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said there was no point at which national supply was at risk, though it has since contacted power companies to warn them about potential cyber threats. For security reasons, neither the government nor the National Cyber Security Centre disclosed which facility was affected.

Part of a Wider Pattern

The attack reportedly occurred last month around the same time as a series of cyberattacks on US water infrastructure that affected 12 states. The UK relies on numerous smaller gas generators to provide short-term backup power, making infrastructure resilience an ongoing priority. The government is currently updating its cybersecurity regulations and developing a new energy resilience strategy expected later this year.

Iran’s Cyber Capabilities Under Watch

While Iran has long been considered a capable cyber actor, Western security experts note that attacks linked to the state have remained limited so far despite heightened tensions stemming from its conflict with the US this year.