Amid the Israel-Hamas war, there is a growing concern about escalating cybersecurity threats. One notable incident involved the hacking of two smart billboards in or near Tel Aviv. The billboards were briefly hijacked to display pro-Hamas content, including imagery of the Israeli flag under fire and scenes from Gaza.
Cybersecurity firm Check Point Software Technologies, based in Tel Aviv, reported the breach, which was attributed to hackers gaining access during a brief window when the network had to be opened. While this incident garnered attention, most cyber threats in the region involve website defacement or distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks.
Check Point, which tracks hacking groups, identified more than 40 groups claiming to be involved in cyberattacks, particularly threats to critical infrastructure like water utilities. However, many of these threats appear to be more about creating fear and discomfort rather than causing significant damage. The most substantial cyberattack reported this week occurred at Ono Academic College near Tel Aviv.
A hacker group claiming to be from Jordan breached the college’s system and published approximately 250,000 records of employees, students, and former students on Telegram. The college took its systems offline but expected them to be fully operational in the coming days.
In this volatile context, Israel is experiencing a multifaceted cyber threat landscape, where various hacking groups are flexing their capabilities, and cyberattacks like the smart billboard incident serve as a visible reminder of the digital front in modern conflicts.
References:
