Jan 15, 2020 - World

Democrats seek answers on Iran cyber threats

Margaret Harding McGill

The Iranian flag appears in a futuristic illustration. — Photo illustration: Filograph

House Democratic leaders pressed the Trump administration Wednesday on how it is preparing telecom companies for possible cyberattacks from Iran after the killing of Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani.

Why it matters: Iranian hackers have been known to attack U.S. businesses, and fears that they could turn their attention to key U.S. infrastructure — including communications networks — spiked following Soleimani's death in an American airstrike.

Driving the news: House Energy & Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone and communications subcommittee chairman Mike Doyle want to know the steps the administration is taking to ensure telecommunications providers are prepared for possible cyber attacks.

They stress the importance of protecting smaller communications providers from threats, and ask if network providers have already experienced an increase in attacks.
They are seeking a briefing by Feb. 5 from Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad Wolf and Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai.
“To protect the American people, the government must proactively work with industry to identify potential threats and aid carriers in the defense of critical communications infrastructure," Pallone and Doyle wrote.

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Democrats seek answers on Iran cyber threats

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