Hackers "Stitched Lips" Disrupt Iranian Navigation with Widespread Cyber Attack

In a notable escalation in the realm of cyber warfare, a hacking group known as "Lip _ Dochtjan" (Stitched Lips) announced the execution of one of the widest digital attacks against the Iranian maritime sector, managing to disrupt communications on more than 60 vessels belonging to the Islamic Republic, including 39 oil tankers and 25 cargo ships.

In a statement reported by "Iran International" channel, the group clarified that it had breached the systems of the National Iranian Oil Tanker Company, along with the Iranian Shipping Lines Company, causing a complete shutdown of communication between the affected ships and their ports and the outside world, leading to a near-total halt of maritime operations.

The group mentioned that the breach occurred by infiltrating the network of "Fanava" Holding Company, a key player in communications and information technology within Iran, providing services including satellite communications, data storage, and payment systems.

This breach allowed the hackers to gain root access within the "Linux" systems that operate the satellite stations installed on the ships.

More dangerously, according to the hackers, they succeeded in disabling the "Falcon" program, which is the central system responsible for managing Iranian maritime communications, resulting in a near-total paralysis of the ability to coordinate and monitor maritime activities.

This attack comes at a time when regional and international tensions are escalating regarding the Iranian nuclear program, amid reports of anticipated talks between Iran and European parties regarding the trigger mechanism, expected to be held next Tuesday.

This digital strike, if its details are confirmed, represents a qualitative shift in targeting Iranian sovereign infrastructure and raises major questions about maritime information security in Tehran and its ability to counter such advanced threats.