Scientists show that cyberattacks not only threaten the technical systems they target but also spark extensive social media discussions that can escalate into broader community crises. Their analysis reveals that public reactions online can be intense, emotional, and wide-ranging. The researchers examine the 2021 cyberattack on the Oldsmar, Florida, water treatment plant as a case study. In that incident, a hacker gained remote access to the facility’s control system in a bid to significantly raise the concentration of sodium hydroxide (lye) in the water supply. Although the intruder initially succeeded in altering the chemical levels, a plant operator noticed the unauthorized changes in real time and quickly reversed them, preventing what could have been a serious public health threat.