Iran's hackers are on the offensive against the US and Israel
As missile sirens wailed over Israel earlier this month, thousands of Israelis received texts claiming to be from their military, encouraging them to download a fake shelter app, which could have stolen reams of personal data. Others received a mass text saying: “Netanyahu is dead. Death is approaching you and soon the gates of hell will open before you. Before the fire of Iranian missiles destroys you, leave Palestine.” The messages, cyber security experts say, are the most visible end of a vast war being waged in the far reaches of the Internet between Iran, Israel, and the US and their online sympathizers. Read full article Comments
As missile sirens wailed over Israel earlier this month, thousands of Israelis received texts claiming to be from their military, encouraging them to download a fake shelter app, which could have stolen reams of personal data.
Others received a mass text saying: “Netanyahu is dead. Death is approaching you and soon the gates of hell will open before you. Before the fire of Iranian missiles destroys you, leave Palestine.”
Tehran hopes to stoke fear and extract intel in a series of cyber attacks.
They may use keyboards instead of rifles, but Iran’s hackers, who have fought Israel in the digital shadows for years, are among the most battle-hardened soldiers Tehran can call on.
“The Iranians are throwing everything they have at this,” said Chris Krebs, who as a former director of the Cybersecurity and Information Security Agency (CISA) was one of the most senior civilian US cyber security officials.
