Pro-Palestinian hackers operating under the name AnonGhost executed a cyberattack on the Red Alert app during the Israel-Hamas conflict, causing significant disruption and panic among Israeli citizens. The Red Alert app, developed by Kobi Snir, serves a crucial role by providing real-time alerts regarding rocket and missile attacks on Israel from the Gaza region.
Singapore-based cybersecurity firm Group-IB confirmed the cyberattack, which exploited an API vulnerability in the app, allowing hackers to send fake rocket alerts and fabricated messages about a “nuclear bomb” attack. These actions intensified an already dire situation.
AnonGhost’s cyberattack not only involved fake missile alerts but also aimed to disrupt users’ phones by disconnecting them from the internet, potentially forcing victims to purchase new devices.
While these claims remain unverified, a video shared by AnonGhost on their Telegram channel demonstrated their exploitation of the RedAlert app for sending false emergency alerts. This digital warfare occurred in tandem with the physical conflict between Israel and Hamas, with hacktivist groups on both sides engaging in cyberattacks, including Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks, data leaks, doxing, and social engineering, contributing to the escalating tensions in the region.
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