Cyberattacks Threaten North Carolina's Critical Infrastructure

• •North Carolina's critical infrastructure is under threat from cyberattacks.
• •Recent attacks have disrupted port operations and affected water systems across multiple states.
• •Federal authorities suspect state-sponsored actors, including Iranian hackers, in these cyber incidents.

North Carolina faces significant threats from cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure such as water supplies, natural gas pipelines, and power grids. Notably, in December 2022, attackers disabled transformers at two electric substations in Moore County, leaving over 45,000 residents without power for four days. On August 4, 2026, cyberattacks disrupted IT systems at ports in Wilmington, Morehead City, and the Charlotte Inland Port, forcing a return to manual operations. Fortunately, contingency plans mitigated the impact, and no sensitive data was compromised. The Shipping Association of New York and New Jersey also reported a ransomware breach in June 2026. Recent waves of cyber invasions have affected water systems in at least 12 states, with federal authorities suspecting Iranian hackers in some cases. North Carolina's fragmented water management system, comprising around 7,600 public water systems, raises concerns about potential poisoning of water sources. The state's rapid growth exacerbates vulnerabilities in its infrastructure.