Tag Archive for: israel

Israel Saw 43% Surge In Cyber Attacks From Iran, Hezbollah In 2023

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Israel saw a 43% surge in cyber assaults originating from Iran and Hezbollah in the last year, a recent report from Israel’s National Cyber Directorate has revealed.

The annual publication highlights a significant escalation in cyber warfare tactics during the period from the October 7 invasion from Iran-backed Hamas, to the end of 2023.

According to the report, Israel encountered a 2.5-fold increase in cyber intrusions compared to previous years, with a total of 3,380 attacks documented during the specified timeframe. Notably, 800 of the attacks were deemed to possess “significant potential for damage” by the National Cyber Directorate.

“The war brought with it an increase in cyber attacks that intensified gradually, shifting from a focus on information theft to disruptive and damaging attacks,” the report stated. It said the attacks had aims from simply spreading public discord to more sophisticated endeavors designed to disrupt essential organizations and influential companies within supply chains.

The Directorate underscored the targeting of hospitals as central objectives, attacks aimed at undermining the war effort and intelligence gathering, and a burgeoning collaboration between Iran and Hezbollah in executing cyber operations.

Throughout 2023, the Directorate registered a total of 13,040 verified cyber attack reports, representing a 43% surge compared to the preceding year. Notably, 68% of these reports coincided with the Gaza conflict.

Of the reported attacks, 41% targeted social networks, 25% were phishing attempts, and 13% exploited vulnerabilities in computer systems. The remaining assaults comprised malware attacks, disruptions to operational continuity, and communication disruptions.

The report also emphasized the prevalent use of compromised login data and phishing techniques by attackers, underscoring the need for heightened vigilance and enhanced cybersecurity measures across critical sectors.

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Israel Underestimated Hamas. It Cannot Make the Same Mistake With Iran – Opinion

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Fuel Crisis In Iran: Cyberattack Hits Petrol Pumps, Israel Tied To Hacking

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(MENAFN– AsiaNet News) A cyber crisis surfaced in Iran as a hacking group, purportedly from Israel, allegedly disrupted a significant portion of the country’s gas stations. Termed “Gonjeshke Darande” or “predatory sparrow,” this group reportedly executed a disabling maneuver, causing approximately 70% of Iran’s gas stations to cease operations, reported the Times of Israel.

The disruption, flagged as a probable case of sabotage involving cyberattacks, was highlighted on Iranian state TV. It attributed the station irregularities to a “software problem” and advised citizens against rushing to the operational stations.

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Previously, the Gonjeshke Darande faction had targeted a key steel company in Iran’s southwest in 2022. They also claimed responsibility for a cyber assault on the country’s fuel distribution system in 2021, which led to widespread station closures and extensive queues of frustrated motorists.

The hackers behind the recent incident asserted that they had systematically disabled gas pumps across Iran. Their motivation was cited as a reaction to what they deemed as the Islamic Republic’s aggressive actions in the region. Additionally, they issued a cautionary message to Khamenei, implying consequences for what they termed as playing with fire.

This development unfolds amidst escalated conflicts involving Iran-backed entities such as Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen, engaging in heightened hostilities against Israel, especially during the ongoing war with Hamas.

Iran has grappled with a slew of cyber assaults on various fronts, targeting its filling stations, railways, and industrial sectors. Instances of breaching surveillance cameras in government buildings, including prisons, have been reported in the past. Moreover, the country took measures to isolate much of its government infrastructure from the internet after the Stuxnet computer virus, believed to be a US-Israeli creation, disrupted thousands of Iranian centrifuges at nuclear sites in the late 2000s.

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Hamas using ‘BiBi’ malware against Israel

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A study conducted by the Israeli cybersecurity company Security Joes, has found a new type of wiper malware in Israel that has the capability to erase computer systems and render them inoperable, which is believed to be used by Hamas terrorists or other hackers affiliated with or working for the terrorist organization.

The malware, was discovered in several Israeli corporate networks, causing significant damage wherever it was deployed. Named BiBi-Linux wiper, the malware can erase and corrupt crucial files in Linux operating systems and cause significant damage. Additionally, the word BiBi (a reference to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s nickname) is coded within the malware itself.

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החמאס פיתח נוזקה בשם ביבי לינוקסהחמאס פיתח נוזקה בשם ביבי לינוקס

BiBi-Linux wiper malware can erase and corrupt crucial files in Linux operating systems and cause significant damage

(Photo: Ido Naor, AI)

The hackers may have attempted to send a message through this malware, though it is unclear whether it is merely an attempt to mislead or obscure the malware’s footsteps.

The malware’s characteristics resemble advanced cyberweapons previously developed by other states. A notable example is Shamoon, a malware that was used by Iranian hackers to attack computer systems in the Middle East.

The use of such malware demonstrates an escalation in the capabilities of Hamas supporters who are involved in cyber warfare

Shamoon was reportedly based on cyberweapons that were used to target Iranian entities almost a decade ago, allegedly developed by Israel and the United States, according to foreign reports. It’s unclear if the current malware is a version of an existing cyberweapon or an original development, and its source remains unknown.

The development of such malware requires advanced capabilities, which are typically not found in activist groups or even cyber teams of terrorist organizations. “We identified this malware in a group of Hamas sympathizers. Hamas could have the capabilities to develop such malware, but at the moment, we’re still investigating the group’s capabilities,” according to Security Joes CEO Ido Naor.

The malware’s discovery was made after the company was called upon to assist Israeli companies that were attacked as part of…

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