LA Governor’s Office Warns Employees of Possible Iranian Cyber Attacks

While those in Shreveport/Bossier might not give much thought to the possibility of escalated tensions between the United States and Iran, there are some Louisiana officials that aren't so sure that we have nothing to worry about.

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In a recent email to staffers, the Governor's Office advised that, "Due to the recent escalation in the Middle East, the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS), Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has issued an updated alert urging us to exercise a more heightened awareness against cyber threats."

Iranian Actors Could Exploit Current Climate For Retaliation

"Intelligence assessments in recent advisories suggest that Iranian state-sponsored actors may seek to exploit the current climate to launch retaliatory attacks targeting US government systems, critical infrastructure, and networks. This could include phishing attacks, attempts to disrupt essential services, ransomware, and other strategies."

This is a pretty good rule for all of us to consider at this crucial time. Even if there might be no attempt at a "physical" type of retribution from Iranian forces, each and every one of us should prepare for the possibility of "cyber attacks."

Immediate Actions Suggested By Louisiana Governor's Office 

The Governor's Office suggested the following immediate actions to State Employees, and we could all benefit from exercising the same on a personal level:

1. Stay alert and be on the lookout for suspicious attachments, emails, and links in emails.
2. Immediately report any suspected phishing attempts, unusual behavior, or links to your Information Security Team and/or Service Desk.
3. Update your passwords immediately if you think you have been compromised and use long, complex passphrases where possible.
4. Use only state issued devices for work and business communications, as these devices will have extra layers of security and monitoring.
5. Physical security is also important. If you see someone or something that seems suspicious, please report it.