Hitech

Israel's investment in civilian research and development (R&D) witnessed a substantial surge in 2022, according to data released by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS). The national expenditure on civilian R&D soared by 14.7%, reaching a remarkable NIS 106.1 billion for the year

NICE, a prominent developer of software systems for customer service centers, fraud prevention, and money laundering detection, has strategically invested $1.7 billion in cash to bolster its AI capabilities and broaden its customer base. This move is set to not only enhance its market position but also allay concerns within the industry about the potential impact of advanced AI technologies like ChatGPT on NICE's future growth prospects

Palo Alto Networks, a prominent player in the cybersecurity industry, has announced its acquisition of Dig Security, an Israeli company known for its cutting-edge technology in real-time detection and response to information leakage threats from various cloud platforms. While the official acquisition amount was not disclosed in the announcement, reliable sources suggest the deal is valued at approximately $315 million, with potential for additional tens of millions of dollars to be added

Israel experienced a significant downturn in its economic landscape in 2023, as reported by leading financial services firm PwC. The total value of transactions, mergers, and acquisitions plummeted by an alarming 46%, reaching a meager $9.8 billion compared to the robust $18 billion recorded in 2022. These figures mark the lowest in the past decade, excluding 2014 when the total transactions amounted to $7.2 billion

At a recent press conference following the release of Check Point's quarterly report, Gil Shvid, one of the founders of Check Point and its longstanding CEO, announced his departure from the CEO position after more than 30 years of service. Shvid will be stepping into the role of chairman, emphasizing his commitment to remain actively involved in the company's future endeavors

In a surprising move, Amdocs, one of Israel's leading hi-tech companies, has issued layoff notices to nearly 100 employees, with termination effective from April 1. This latest round of cuts comes merely half a year after the company's announcement of its intention to lay off 2,000 workers worldwide, including approximately 250 in Israel

Iranian cyber attackers, linked to the Muddy Water group associated with the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence, have launched targeted phishing campaigns against Israeli journalists and media organizations, according to a report released by Check Point and revealed by PC. The Muddy Water group executed two significant phishing campaigns in recent days, focusing on leading media outlets, prominent journalists, as well as tourism and health organizations in Israel. The attackers utilized hacked legitimate email addresses to send deceptive messages, posing as medical and nursing centers or...