Israeli Journalist Rina Matzliach Warns of Iranian Telegram Hack
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
Israeli journalist Rina Matzliach reported that Iranian actors hacked her Telegram account, warning followers to ignore messages from her. This follows similar incidents involving former Prime Ministers Naftali Bennett and advisors to the current Prime Minister, as well as former Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked. The National Cyber Directorate had previously warned of Iranian attempts to hack journalists, coinciding with upcoming elections and broader concerns about Iranian interference.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Journalist Rina Matzliach reported her Telegram account was hacked by Iranian actors.
- Former Prime Ministers Naftali Bennett and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked have faced similar breaches.
- Iranian hackers have been targeting Israeli journalists and media professionals, according to security warnings.
- The incidents occur amid heightened concerns about Iranian interference in upcoming Israeli elections.
- Cyber authorities advise the public to use security measures like two-factor authentication.
Journalist and former Channel 12 news anchor Rina Matzliach announced on Sunday via Instagram that Iranian actors had breached her Telegram account. She cautioned her followers to disregard any messages received from her account, stating they were not from her. The extent of the breach and the information accessed remain unclear, as does the identity of the perpetrators, though Matzliach's warning suggests concern over messages being sent in her name.
Matzliach is not the first public figure in Israel to report such an incident. In December 2025, former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett revealed that unauthorized individuals, claimed by an Iranian hacking group to be themselves, had gained access to his Telegram account. While Bennett stated his device was not compromised, personal details, photos, and communications were disseminated online. Former Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked was also targeted in August 2025 when Iranian actors reportedly accessed her Telegram via a malicious link. More recently, in October, thousands of communications attributed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's advisor Yonatan Uriach were leaked, with the perpetrators unidentified.
This incident follows a specific warning issued in August by the Shin Bet and the National Cyber Directorate about a surge in Iranian hacking attempts targeting Israeli journalists and media professionals. These actors reportedly impersonate well-known figures to solicit access to sensitive information, journalistic sources, and communications through WhatsApp and Telegram. The timing is particularly sensitive with the upcoming 26th Knesset elections on Tuesday.
Furthermore, a recent report from the Institute for National Security Studies warned of Iranian efforts to influence public discourse, potentially by obtaining and disseminating real or fabricated communications to deepen societal divisions. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also recently cautioned against Iranian attempts to disrupt the elections, stating in an interview that Israel would respond with "unusual force" if Iran interfered, though his remarks addressed broader security threats rather than specific account breaches.
The National Cyber Directorate reiterates its advice to the public: avoid clicking suspicious links, enable two-factor authentication, and verify sender identities through alternative communication channels. For Matzliach's followers, the message is clear: messages from her account may not originate from her.
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