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Internet collapses across Iran, say web-monitoring firms
Iran experienced a near-total internet blackout as military conflict with Israel escalated. Monitoring firms reported connectivity dropped about 97% compared to the previous week. The blackout comes amid cyberattacks and restrictions on internet access. Experts could not determine the exact cause, though it follows a pattern of significant outages during conflicts.
Key points
- Date: Wednesday during ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel.
- Event: Near-total internet blackout reported by multiple monitoring firms (NetBlocks, IODA).
- Impact: Internet connectivity in Iran dropped nearly 97% from the previous week.
- Cause: While specific reasons are unclear, a massive cyber war by Israel and consequent internet restrictions by Iran may have contributed.
- Observations: Experts like David Belson noted no concurrent drop in announced IP address space, indicating a unique situation.
- Comparison: Current outage considered more severe than a previous blackout just a day earlier.
Why it matters
- 2025 IT trends indicate increasing geopolitical tensions will likely influence internet access and cybersecurity measures globally.
- There has been a rise in cyberattacks coinciding with military conflicts, reinforcing the importance of cybersecurity in global stability.
- Previous significant internet blackouts in other countries (e.g., during protests or conflicts) demonstrate a pattern that may emerge in future crises.
The near-total blackout of internet in Iran highlights the intersection of geopolitical conflicts and cybersecurity, illustrating how access to digital communications can be severely impacted during wartime, with implications for global internet resilience.