US warns citizens of violence, cyberattacks amid escalating tensions with Iran - Top things to know

The United States on Sunday issued an advisory for citizens, cautioning them about a "heightened threat environment" amid tensions with Iran.

The advisory, issued by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), mentioned that the current tensions with Iran could lead to cyberattacks, violence, and extremist activity.

The notice, which read, “The ongoing Iran conflict is causing a heightened threat environment in the United States. Low-level cyber attacks against US networks by pro-Iranian hacktivists are likely, and cyber actors affiliated with the Iranian government may conduct attacks against US networks.

Warning the government officials, it said, "Iran also has a long-standing commitment to target US Government officials it views as responsible for the death of an Iranian military commander killed in January 2020.”

The notice further added, “the likelihood of violent extremists in the Homeland independently mobilising to violence in response to the conflict would likely increase if Iranian leadership issued a religious ruling calling for retaliatory violence against targets in the Homeland.”

The advisory claimed that hackers and Iranian government-aligned actors frequently target inadequately protected US networks and Internet-connected devices for disruptive cyber attacks.

The latest notice comes after the US launched airstrikes against key nuclear sites of Iran, including Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan, while President Donald Trump warned further action against Iran if they retaliate.

Here are some measures outlined in the advisory for citizens to ensure their safety —

• Listen to local authorities and public safety officials.

• DHS’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) offers cybersecurity practices for securing US networks.

• The Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) Initiative (NSI) is a collaborative effort by DHS, the FBI, and law enforcement partners to identify and report threats of terrorism and other related criminal activity.

• Report suspicious activity and threats of violence, including online threats, to local law enforcement, FBI Field Offices, or local fusion centre or call 911 in case of emergency.