US dropped 'bunker buster' bombs, but Iran’s 'Mysterious Team' has put America on high alert; What experts fear most

Hackers supporting Tehran have attacked U.S. banks, defense contractors, and oil companies after the American strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, but so far, the damage hasn’t disrupted daily life or critical services. However, experts say that could change if the fragile ceasefire between Iran and Israel breaks down.

According to a report by The Associated Press (AP), cybersecurity experts believe that independent hacker groups aligned with Iran might launch bigger and more dangerous cyberattacks in the future. Tech investor Arnie Bellini warned that these digital attacks are cheaper than traditional warfare and just as threatening.

Read more: Trump’s bunker-buster claims challenged by Pentagon report as Israel–Iran ceasefire begins with nuclear secrets still buried


“We just showed the world: You don’t want to mess with us kinetically. But we are wide open digitally. We are like Swiss cheese,” said Bellini, as quoted by AP.

Hackers hit aviation, banks, and oil firms

After the U.S. strikes, pro-Palestinian hacker groups claimed they attacked more than a dozen aviation, banking, and oil industry websites. These were denial-of-service (DoS) attacks, which overload and crash websites. One such group, “Mysterious Team,” posted on Telegram: “We increase attacks from today.”

U.S. federal agencies are now on high alert. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a warning on Sunday about the increased threat. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) also asked companies managing water, power, and pipelines to stay alert.

While Iran is not as advanced in cyberwarfare as countries like China or Russia, it is known to use cyberattacks to create chaos and gather intelligence. AP noted that Tehran often uses hacker groups that either work for its military or operate independently but with the same goals.

Fear, confusion and psychological pressure

An Israeli cyber expert from Trustwave SpiderLabs Ziv Mador told AP that these attacks are designed to scare people and confuse systems. He pointed to an earlier incident after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, where hackers sent fake nuclear missile alerts through an Israeli emergency app.

“It causes an immediate psychological impact,” Mador said. “Economic disruption, confusion, and fear are the goals.”

Mador added that Iran’s cyber methods mirror tactics used by Russia during the Ukraine war.

Spying on the U.S. and Trump

Intelligence gathering is another goal. A former NSA expert Jake Williams said Iran is likely focusing its cyber efforts on spying rather than destruction right now.

“It’s fairly certain that these limited resources are being used for intelligence collection to understand what Israel or the U.S. might be planning next,” Williams told AP.

Last year, U.S. officials charged three Iranians with trying to hack Donald Trump’s campaign. Williams said those efforts are likely ongoing.

U.S. cyber cuts raise alarms

These rising threats come as the Trump administration has reduced funding for cybersecurity. According to AP, staffing has been cut at agencies like CISA and the NSA. Even Gen. Timothy Haugh, who led U.S. Cyber Command, was suddenly fired.

Experts say this is the wrong time to weaken digital defenses. Bellini, who donated $40 million to build a cybersecurity center at the University of South Florida, said that America needs to take the cyber arms race seriously.

“It will go back and forth, and it will never end,” Bellini said, comparing it to Wile E. Coyote chasing the Road Runner.

Inputs from AP