It seems like the digital age has brought along a new breed of warfare, where computers and cyber codes replace traditional weapons. Recently, cyberattacks on city water systems across at least seven states have grabbed the attention of federal officials. These attacks come amidst warnings from the Trump administration that Iranian-affiliated hackers are targeting critical infrastructure in the US. It’s almost like there’s a secret video game league, except the consequences are all too real, as they target our precious water supply.

In this particularly unsettling chapter, Minnesota has reported attacks on around 30 water systems, while Michigan is dealing with nine incidents. It seems the cyber boogeyman has taken quite an interest in these areas. But wait! Despite the stealthy digital fingerprints on these attacks, the White House has been cautious about pinning the blame directly on Iran. It’s almost as if they’re playing a game of not-so merry whodunit, with the usual suspects being left out of the narrative.

There’s a particularly humorous twist to Minnesota blaming the attacks conveniently on Iran, as if someone flipped a coin with a world map and Iran just happened to be the unlucky country it landed on. Meanwhile, the idea of internal incompetence being a possible factor seems to be brushed neatly under the rug. Sure, foreign hackers are a real threat, but sometimes, looking within might reveal that things could have been prevented. A little homegrown introspection doesn’t hurt every now and then, after all.

Adding to the paranoia, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, better known by the catchy acronym CISA, has issued a warning about a noticeable uptick in cyber threats targeting those internet-connected controls in water and wastewater sectors. The result of these cyber nightmares? Boil water notices and switching to manual operations, which sounds like quite the inconvenience in our advanced, digital-reliant world. It’s either that, or we might soon return to fetching water from a river, Little House on the Prairie style.

While pointing fingers might be the most exciting part of political drama, it’s important to remember that the priority should be beefing up security to defend against these threats. Because whether it’s a tech-savvy foreign hacker or a slip-up within, we can’t afford to have something as crucial as water supply disrupted. But for those affected by these cyber adventures, it’s a sure sign that the techno-thriller of modern politics and security continues to thicken, leaving everyone reaching for the popcorn (and perhaps a bottle of water, just in case).