U.S. suspects Iranian hackers tampered with gas station tank gauge readings in multiple states

U.S. officials suspect Iranian-linked hackers have breached automatic tank gauge systems at gas stations in multiple states, altering some displayed fuel readings while leaving actual fuel levels unchanged, according to people briefed on the investigation. The intrusions did not report any physical damage, injuries, or confirmed fuel spills. Still, the incidents are raising new concerns about cybersecurity weaknesses in technology that underpins routine monitoring of everyday energy infrastructure.

The affected systems are automatic tank gauge, or ATG, devices used by fuel stations to track the amount of fuel stored in underground tanks and to generate alerts related to temperature, leakage, and storage capacity. Investigators said the compromised ATGs were connected to the internet and, in some cases, were not protected by password authentication. That exposed access allowed attackers to manipulate what operators saw on certain monitors, according to officials and experts briefed on the matter, but investigators said there is no evidence that hackers changed the fuel itself.

Safety experts said the primary risk is not immediate shutdowns or physical attacks, but the possibility...