Hackers disrupt over 30 Minnesota water utilities in coordinated OT attack
July 29, 2026 · BleepingComputer · Severity: MEDIUM
Hackers launched a coordinated cyberattack targeting operational technology (OT) systems at more than 30 community water systems across Minnesota over Sunday and Monday, July 26-27, 2026. The Minnesota IT Services (MNIT) agency activated statewide cybersecurity incident response capabilities. The City of Braham reported that its water plant was taken offline, with crews later identifying the outage as resulting from a malicious cyberattack on computerized operating systems. Other communities reported temporary equipment malfunctions and switched to manual operations or contingency plans to maintain services. MNIT is working with federal, state, local, Tribal, and private-sector partners to investigate and fortify critical infrastructure security. No requests for residents to change drinking water usage were made. CISA, FBI, and international partners concurrently published 'CI Fortify' guidance recommending critical infrastructure organizations isolate key OT systems during cyberattacks.
Key Takeaways
- Coordinated OT attack on 30+ water utilities — Hackers targeted community water systems across Minnesota over two days, taking plants offline and causing equipment malfunctions.
- Braham water plant taken offline — The City of Braham confirmed its plant outage was caused by a malicious cyberattack on computerized operating systems, with service restored after 3 hours.
- Manual operations maintained water service — Affected communities switched to manual operations or contingency plans, with no requests for residents to change water usage.