Ashkelon Man Charged with Extensive Cyberattacks on Israeli Companies and Individuals
Israel's State Prosecutor's Office has indicted a 43-year-old Ashkelon resident, Michael Bar, on charges of conducting large-scale cyberattacks against Israeli companies and private citizens. The indictment alleges that since 2019, Bar distributed malicious software to gain remote access to the computers of 26 companies and other users.
According to investigators, Bar could control infected computers, activate their cameras and microphones without the owners' knowledge, view user activity, download files, and steal passwords and other sensitive data. The prosecution claims he also saved recordings from cameras, including intimate content, obtained without consent, specifically mentioning recordings of women and their minor daughters.
The malicious software reportedly continued to operate even after the infected computers were turned off. Prosecutors stated that Bar leveraged his cybersecurity expertise and later employed artificial intelligence tools to enhance the malware.
The prosecution is seeking to keep Bar in custody until the trial concludes. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
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