Iranian-Linked Cyber Group Claims Breach of California Water Utility Billing Systems

The Iranian-linked cyber group Handala claimed responsibility on June 12, 2026, for breaching several California water systems, including those in Bakersfield, Visalia, and Chico. The group published screenshots of water bills, asserting 5GB of data exfiltration. However, the California Water Service Company reported no signs of compromise to its IT or operational technology networks, and no disruption to water service was observed.