A major cybersecurity investigation is underway in the United States after more than 30 community water systems in Minnesota were impacted by what authorities describe as malicious cyber activity.

According to Minnesota officials, several water utilities were forced to shift to manual operations after the attack disrupted their systems. Cities including Plymouth, South St. Paul, Maple Plain, and Braham have publicly reported cyber incidents.

Federal investigators, including the FBI, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), are examining the breach. Investigators are exploring whether the attacks show signs of involvement by Iran-linked hackers, though officials have stressed that the findings remain preliminary and no specific actor has been officially blamed.

 Iran Hackers Under FBI Radar Over Minnesota Water Cyberattacks

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has revealed that cases of cyber threats and blackmail against the Indian diaspora in the United States have exponentially increased. The data has indicated that complaints have increased from eight in 2024 to 613 in 2025. The Immigration lawyers, consultants, and members of the diaspora maintain that several of these complaints are connected to rapid scrutiny and policies introduced by the administration of US President Donald Trump in 2025, based on The Times of India report. Victims have reported receiving calls from fraudsters posing as officials from the US immigration agencies such as the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), US Department of Homeland Security, and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).<h3>Fake law firms</h3>Some scammers also pretend to represent fake law firms or even the Indian embassy. According to reports, callers claim there are issues with immigration records and threaten deportation or legal action. In one case, a Hyderabad student in Texas said his father transferred ₹50,000 after receiving such a call, only realising it was a scam when more money was demanded. “They said my admission number was not updated and questioned me aggressively. When I challenged them, they threatened arrest if I did not comply,” the student said, and added that the number was eventually blocked. He also said that in a few cases, the scammers targeted family members in India. Another immigrant from Hyderabad in Delaware, “They told my parents I had been arrested for theft and even played a voice that sounded like me crying." &nbsp;His father sent Rs 50,000 before realising it was a scam when the caller demanded an additional Rs 1 lakh. Experts are advising people to independently verify such claims through official channels and to avoid sharing personal or financial details over unsolicited calls.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-strike-could-trigger-nuclear-accident-who-chief-sounds-alarm-of-risk-after-attacks-on-iran-power-plant-1775388562221">'Strike could trigger nuclear accident': WHO chief sounds alarm of risk after attacks on Iran power plant</a>

Victims have reported receiving calls from fraudsters posing as officials from the US immigration agencies such as the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), US Department of Homeland Security, and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has revealed that cases of cyber threats and blackmail against the Indian diaspora in the United States have exponentially increased. The data has indicated that complaints have increased from eight in 2024 to 613 in 2025. The Immigration lawyers, consultants, and members of the diaspora maintain that several of these complaints are connected to rapid scrutiny and policies introduced by the administration of US President Donald Trump in 2025, based on The Times of India report. Victims have reported receiving calls from fraudsters posing as officials from the US immigration agencies such as the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), US Department of Homeland Security, and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Fake law firms Some scammers also pretend to represent fake law firms or even the Indian embassy. According to reports, callers claim there are issues with immigration records and threaten deportation or legal action. In one case, a Hyderabad student in Texas said his father transferred ₹50,000 after receiving such a call, only realising it was a scam when more money was demanded. “They said my admission number was not updated and questioned me aggressively. When I challenged them, they threatened arrest if I did not comply,” the student said, and added that the number was eventually blocked. He also said that in a few cases, the scammers targeted family members in India. Another immigrant from Hyderabad in Delaware, “They told my parents I had been arrested for theft and even played a voice that sounded like me crying." His father sent Rs 50,000 before realising it was a scam when the caller demanded an additional Rs 1 lakh. Experts are advising people to independently verify such claims through official channels and to avoid sharing personal or financial details over unsolicited calls. Also read: 'Strike could trigger nuclear accident': WHO chief sounds alarm of risk after attacks on Iran power plant

Victims have reported receiving calls from fraudsters posing as officials from the US immigration agencies such as the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), US Department of Homeland Security, and US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Cyber scams & blackmail target Indian diaspora in US after Trump launched crackdown on immigration: Report

The US government warns of a large-scale Russian hacking campaign targeting messaging apps like Signal, compromising thousands of accounts. Military officials, journalists, and other high-value targets have been particularly affected, with attackers reportedly tricking users into sharing login codes. The FBI and CISA have confirmed the breach, urging heightened vigilance as cyber threats escalate and sensitive communications are at risk.


US Flags Russian Hackers Targeting Messaging Apps, Thousands Compromised

Europe looks to Japan for defence pact amid ‘worrying shift’ in regional dynamic. Agreement being discussed could potentially include cooperation on naval exercises, intelligence sharing and responses to cyber threats.

Europe looks to Japan for defence pact amid regional dynamics

The US Department of State Thursday (Feb 8) announced a reward of up to $10 million for information revealing the identity of the leaders of the Hive ransomware gang. The department said it would also pay up to $5 million for info leading to the arrest and conviction of any of the members in any country.

"Beginning in late July 2022, the FBI penetrated Hive's computer networks, obtained its decryption keys and offered them to victims worldwide, preventing victims from having to pay up to $130 million in ransoms demanded," the State Department said in a statement.

<h2>The menace of the Hive ransomware gang</h2>

According to the US government, the gang is responsible for targeting over 1,500 institutions in over 80 nations. The group, through its activities, has stolen over $100 million from school districts, financial firms and critical infrastructure.

Watch:&nbsp;Digital warfare becomes new battlefront enabling rise in cyber influenced operations

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Globally, several ransomware gangs operate from different nations, with total payments coughed up by victims surpassing the $1 billion mark in 20203. In the US alone, more than 2,200 hospitals, schools and government institutes were targeted in the last year, along with thousands of private firms.

<h2>How does the gang operate?</h2>

Hive ransomware gang designs malicious software which can infiltrate the computer networks of organisations by deploying various methods, including phishing emails. The group holds their users hostage and demands heavy payment in return for decryption keys to unlock the organisation’s system.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-jsarwt="1" data-usg="AOvVaw31AhwB6ZZbGFvoylyVqRGh" data-ved="2ahUKEwj4wqm_pJ6EAxUvUGwGHS1QAbIQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-warns-apple-users-of-major-cyber-attack-heres-list-of-devices-at-highest-risk-686112" jsname="YKoRaf">India warns Apple users of major cyber attack. Here's the list of devices at highest risk</a>

In one case, Hive's attack on a Midwestern hospital disrupted care during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and forced institutions to pay a ransom before they could treat their patients, the Justice Department said.

The lucrative award for information was announced just weeks after US Attorney General Merrick Garland announced that the FBI had toppled the international ring, seizing its servers in California after more than a year of spying on the cybercriminals.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

The US Department of State Thursday (Feb 8) announced a reward of up to $10 million for information revealing the identity of the leaders of the Hive ransomware gang.

The US Department of State Thursday (Feb 8) announced a reward of up to $10 million for information revealing the identity of the leaders of the Hive ransomware gang. The department said it would also pay up to $5 million for info leading to the arrest and conviction of any of the members in any country. "Beginning in late July 2022, the FBI penetrated Hive's computer networks, obtained its decryption keys and offered them to victims worldwide, preventing victims from having to pay up to $130 million in ransoms demanded," the State Department said in a statement. The menace of the Hive ransomware gang According to the US government, the gang is responsible for targeting over 1,500 institutions in over 80 nations. The group, through its activities, has stolen over $100 million from school districts, financial firms and critical infrastructure. Watch: Digital warfare becomes new battlefront enabling rise in cyber influenced operations × Globally, several ransomware gangs operate from different nations, with total payments coughed up by victims surpassing the $1 billion mark in 20203. In the US alone, more than 2,200 hospitals, schools and government institutes were targeted in the last year, along with thousands of private firms. How does the gang operate? Hive ransomware gang designs malicious software which can infiltrate the computer networks of organisations by deploying various methods, including phishing emails. The group holds their users hostage and demands heavy payment in return for decryption keys to unlock the organisation’s system. Also read: India warns Apple users of major cyber attack. Here's the list of devices at highest risk In one case, Hive's attack on a Midwestern hospital disrupted care during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and forced institutions to pay a ransom before they could treat their patients, the Justice Department said. The lucrative award for information was announced just weeks after US Attorney General Merrick Garland announced that the FBI had toppled the international ring, seizing its servers in California after more than a year of spying on the cybercriminals. (With inputs from agencies)

US announces $10mn award for information on Hive ransomware gang

Tech giants have announced&nbsp;an investment of billions of dollars to strengthen cybersecurity defenses and to train skilled workers.

It comes after the White House asked Big Tech, the finance industry, and key infrastructure companies to do more to tackle the growing&nbsp;cybersecurity&nbsp;threat&nbsp;in a meeting with President Joe Biden and members of his cabinet.

“The reality is most of our critical infrastructure is owned and operated by the private sector, and the federal government can’t meet this challenge alone,” Biden said.

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"The federal government can't meet this challenge alone," Biden told the masked executives, all seated at tables in the East Room.

Cybersecurity has risen to the top of the agenda for the Biden administration after a series of high-profile attacks on network management company SolarWinds Corp, the Colonial Pipeline company, meat processing company JBS and software firm Kaseya.

The attacks hurt the United States far beyond just the companies hacked, affecting fuel and food supplies.

Biden touched on ransomware attacks and said he had pressed Russian President Vladimir Putin to hold people responsible for attacks when he met him earlier this year.

The guest list included Amazon.com Inc CEO Andy Jassy, Apple Inc CEO Tim Cook, Microsoft Corp CEO Satya Nadella, Google's parent Alphabet Inc CEO Sundar Pichai, and IBM Chief Executive Arvind Krishna.

Microsoft said it will invest $20 billion over five years, a four-fold increase from current rates, to speed up its&nbsp;cyber&nbsp;security work.

It will make available $150 million in technical services to help federal, state, and local governments to help keep their security systems up to date.

The meeting comes as Congress weighs legislation concerning data breach notification laws and&nbsp;cybersecurity insurance industry regulation, historically viewed as two of the most consequential policy areas within the field.

Executives for energy utility firm Southern Co and financial giant JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co are also expected to attend the event.

The event featured top&nbsp;cybersecurity officials from the Biden administration, including recently confirmed National&nbsp;Cybersecurity Director Chris Inglis, as well as Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, to lead different conversations with industry representatives.

(With inputs from agencies)

Tech giants have announced an investment of billions of dollars to strengthen cybersecurity defenses and to train skilled workers. It comes after the White House asked Big Tech, the finance industry, and key infrastructure companies to do more to tackle the growing cybersecurity threat in a meeting with President Joe Biden and members of his cabinet.

Tech giants have announced an investment of billions of dollars to strengthen cybersecurity defenses and to train skilled workers. It comes after the White House asked Big Tech, the finance industry, and key infrastructure companies to do more to tackle the growing cybersecurity threat in a meeting with President Joe Biden and members of his cabinet. “The reality is most of our critical infrastructure is owned and operated by the private sector, and the federal government can’t meet this challenge alone,” Biden said. "The federal government can't meet this challenge alone," Biden told the masked executives, all seated at tables in the East Room. Cybersecurity has risen to the top of the agenda for the Biden administration after a series of high-profile attacks on network management company SolarWinds Corp, the Colonial Pipeline company, meat processing company JBS and software firm Kaseya. The attacks hurt the United States far beyond just the companies hacked, affecting fuel and food supplies. Biden touched on ransomware attacks and said he had pressed Russian President Vladimir Putin to hold people responsible for attacks when he met him earlier this year. The guest list included Amazon.com Inc CEO Andy Jassy, Apple Inc CEO Tim Cook, Microsoft Corp CEO Satya Nadella, Google's parent Alphabet Inc CEO Sundar Pichai, and IBM Chief Executive Arvind Krishna. Microsoft said it will invest $20 billion over five years, a four-fold increase from current rates, to speed up its cyber security work. It will make available $150 million in technical services to help federal, state, and local governments to help keep their security systems up to date. The meeting comes as Congress weighs legislation concerning data breach notification laws and cybersecurity insurance industry regulation, historically viewed as two of the most consequential policy areas within the field. Executives for energy utility firm Southern Co and financial giant JPMorgan Chase & Co are also expected to attend the event. The event featured top cybersecurity officials from the Biden administration, including recently confirmed National Cybersecurity Director Chris Inglis, as well as Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, to lead different conversations with industry representatives. (With inputs from agencies)

Tech giants pledge billions for security against cyber threats

Ukraine&#39;s State Security Service (SBU) raided the Kiev and Odessa offices of Russia&#39;s top search site Yandex, accusing the company of illegally collecting Ukrainian users&#39; data and sending it to Russian security agencies.

Ukraine imposed sanctions on Yandex and several other Russian Internet firms this month and blocked access to their websites, saying it wanted to guard against cyber threats.

&quot;There are representatives of Ukraine&#39;s Security Service in our offices in Kiev and Odessa,&quot; Yandex said in a statement, saying its lawyers were willing to help with any investigation.

SBU spokeswoman Olena Gitlyanska said on Facebook &quot;investigative actions&quot; were being carried out in connection with a criminal investigation into suspected treason but gave no further details.

A Reuters witness at Yandex&#39;s Kiev office saw plain-clothes investigators sticking yellow labels onto a number of computers that appeared to have been seized.

Later, the SBU said in a statement that information had been passed to Russia for use in reconnaissance and acts of sabotage that undermined the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

Yandex has previously said it operates fully in accordance with Ukrainian law. It does not expect sanctions to have a materially negative impact on its business.

More than 450 Russian firms have been blacklisted by Kiev since Moscow&#39;s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the ensuing pro-Russian separatist uprising in eastern Ukraine.

Before sanctions were imposed, Yandex employed 320 people in Ukraine and had about 11 million Ukrainian users.

(Reuters)

Ukraine imposed sanctions on Yandex and other Russian Internet firms this month and blocked access to their websites to guard against cyber threats

Ukraine's State Security Service (SBU) raided the Kiev and Odessa offices of Russia's top search site Yandex, accusing the company of illegally collecting Ukrainian users' data and sending it to Russian security agencies. Ukraine imposed sanctions on Yandex and several other Russian Internet firms this month and blocked access to their websites, saying it wanted to guard against cyber threats. "There are representatives of Ukraine's Security Service in our offices in Kiev and Odessa," Yandex said in a statement, saying its lawyers were willing to help with any investigation. SBU spokeswoman Olena Gitlyanska said on Facebook "investigative actions" were being carried out in connection with a criminal investigation into suspected treason but gave no further details. A Reuters witness at Yandex's Kiev office saw plain-clothes investigators sticking yellow labels onto a number of computers that appeared to have been seized. Later, the SBU said in a statement that information had been passed to Russia for use in reconnaissance and acts of sabotage that undermined the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. Yandex has previously said it operates fully in accordance with Ukrainian law. It does not expect sanctions to have a materially negative impact on its business. More than 450 Russian firms have been blacklisted by Kiev since Moscow's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the ensuing pro-Russian separatist uprising in eastern Ukraine. Before sanctions were imposed, Yandex employed 320 people in Ukraine and had about 11 million Ukrainian users. (Reuters)

Investigators search Ukrainian offices of Russia's Yandex

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