Escalating Cyber Warfare over Gaza conflict: Iranian Hackers Target Israeli and Institutions

Palo Alto's research unit has brought to light an alarming increase in cyber attacks orchestrated by the Iranian hacker group known as "Agrius" against Israeli targets. These attacks have intensified since the onset of hostilities. The Agrius group, which has been operating since 2020, has been actively engaged in stealing sensitive information and causing damage by deleting data, ultimately affecting innocent Israeli citizens.

Agrius hackers have successfully targeted and stolen sensitive information, including identity cards, full addresses, passports, and email addresses of Israeli citizens. Disturbingly, the hackers then publish the stolen data on social networks and Telegram channels, with the clear intention of sowing fear and disrupting the daily lives of Israel's residents.

Assaf Dahan, the head of Palo Alto's cyber threat research group, has expressed deep concern about the increasing capabilities of the Iranian hackers. Not only has the frequency of attacks escalated, but the sophistication of their techniques has also grown. These attacks focus on destructive actions, such as stealing information from Israeli companies and institutions, with the ultimate aim of wreaking havoc and paralyzing the digital space.

Dahan further explained that Israel remains a primary target for Iran, as the nation seeks to cause damage by targeting critical infrastructure, important businesses, and organizations, including educational entities. These attacks not only harm the economy but also disrupt the daily routine and resilience of Israeli citizens.

The escalating cyber warfare between Iran's Agrius group and Israeli targets poses a significant threat, requiring increased vigilance and cybersecurity measures to safeguard critical information and protect citizens.

Additionally, the cyber warfare has expanded to affect sports teams in Israel. Hackers targeted the official websites of sports teams, including Maccabi Tel Aviv in basketball, Hapoel BS, and Maccabi Netanya. These attacks replaced the sites' front pages with an image of a masked terrorist and the symbol of the terrorist organization "Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades," which is affiliated with Hamas. The message in Arabic read: "Allah's victory is near," followed by the sentence: "Gaza forever, P*K Israel." These attacks are a direct continuation of previous hacker incidents related to Israeli sports.

As this cyber conflict continues, Israeli institutions and organizations are urged to bolster their cybersecurity defenses to mitigate the ongoing threats and safeguard critical information. The situation remains fluid, and authorities are working diligently to respond to and counter these cyberattacks.

The cyber war has extended to various facets of Israeli society, underscoring the need for increased vigilance and the implementation of robust cybersecurity measures to protect against these attacks.