Ibrahim Saify

More than 60 Iranian-aligned cyber groups mobilized within hours of the February 28, 2026 Iran-US escalation, as AI tools sharply lowered the barrier to targeting America’s internet-exposed critical infrastructure. The report shows how exposed ICS systems, default credentials, and AI-assisted reconnaissance are converging into a fast-growing national security risk.

The 28 February 2026 strikes accelerated an existing cyber threat to U.S. critical infrastructure, rather than creating it. This report examines who is targeting industrial control systems (ICS), how attacks are carried out, and the scale of the exposed attack surface. Critical infrastructure is a prime retaliation target due to high civilian impact, a large number of internet-exposed ICS devices, and long-standing underinvestment in OT cybersecurity.