Iran's record internet shutdown is widening the divide between the country's military and civilian government, as security forces use the blackout to extend their authority over daily life amid US tensions.
The unprecedented internet restrictions reveal how Iran's security apparatus is leveraging the geopolitical conflict to consolidate power beyond traditional military operations.
With connectivity severed across much of the country, the military has effectively reduced civilians' ability to communicate, access information, or organize independently. The blackout coincides with escalating US-Iran tensions, providing cover for expanded surveillance and control mechanisms.
The divide between Iran's civilian institutions and its powerful security forces has sharpened as the blackout persists. Military bodies now operate with minimal oversight during the communications shutdown, establishing infrastructure and procedures that could outlast the current crisis.
Civilian government agencies report limited capacity to function or coordinate response efforts. Citizens face restricted access to essential services reliant on internet connectivity, from banking to healthcare.
Experts note this pattern mirrors previous instances where security emergencies have resulted in permanent shifts toward military control in Iran.
U.S. federal prosecutors have unsealed charges against three Russian nationals accused of operating a bulletproof hosting service that supported ransomware gangs responsible for over $62 million in damages worldwide.
The U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) warned that attackers are actively exploiting three vulnerabilities in Internet-exposed on-premises SharePoint Server instances. Organizations running affected versions must patch immediately.
Tailscale disclosed a critical vulnerability in its SSH implementation that allowed attackers to gain root access through insecure argument handling. The flaw has been patched in recent versions.
A new study found that social media platforms referred over 5.7 million visits to nonconsensual deepfake pornography sites between December 2025 and March 2026, with YouTube and X accounting for the majority of traffic.