Israeli Journalist Rina Matzliach Alleges Iranian Hackers Breached Her Phone
Translated & summarized from Kipa by baba
Israeli journalist Rina Matzliach reported on Sunday that Iranian hackers allegedly breached her phone and warned followers to disregard any Telegram messages from her. This follows similar incidents involving former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, ex-Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, and Netanyahu's Chief of Staff Tzachi Braverman. In August 2026, Israeli security agencies warned of Iranian intelligence targeting journalists with phishing attempts.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Journalist Rina Matzliach claims Iranian hackers breached her phone and warns Telegram users to ignore messages.
- An Iranian hacker group previously claimed to have accessed former PM Naftali Bennett's Telegram account in December 2025.
- The same group claimed phone breaches of former minister Ayelet Shaked and Tzachi Braverman in early January 2026.
- Israel's Shin Bet and Cyber Directorate warned of Iranian intelligence targeting journalists in August 2026.
- Attackers impersonate known individuals to trick targets into clicking links or revealing sensitive information.
Israeli journalist and presenter Rina Matzliach posted an unusual Instagram story on Sunday, warning her followers that she believes Iranian operatives have hacked her phone. "Hey Iranians, you hacked my phone. Anyone receiving messages from me on Telegram, please ignore. It's not me," she wrote. Matzliach is not the first public figure in Israel to experience a phone breach. In December 2025, associates of former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett confirmed access was gained to his Telegram account, with an Iranian hacker group claiming responsibility. At the time, Bennett clarified that while the device itself wasn't compromised, contact lists, photos, and messages, some real and some fabricated, were distributed.
Journalists and media personnel are increasingly targets. In early January 2026, the hacker group "Handala" claimed to have breached the phone of former Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked, releasing images and materials allegedly obtained from the device. Days prior, the same group claimed to have accessed information from the phone of Tzachi Braverman, Prime Minister Netanyahu's Chief of Staff. Netanyahu's office stated at the time that the incident was old and protective measures had been taken.
In August 2026, Israel's Shin Bet and National Cyber Directorate issued a warning about targeted phishing attempts by Iranian intelligence against Israeli journalists and media professionals. The warning indicated that attackers impersonate known individuals, contact targets via WhatsApp or Telegram, and attempt to trick them into clicking malicious links or revealing login credentials to access sensitive communications and information.
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