Cyber Attacks Surge 82% Against Israeli Government Ahead of Elections
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS by baba
Cybersecurity threats targeting Israel have significantly increased ahead of the elections, with an 82% surge in attacks on government entities. Researchers have identified over 1,200 new election-related websites, many suspected of malicious intent, including phishing operations to steal personal data. Past data leaks are being re-exploited, and activist groups are intensifying sensitive information leaks and planning DDoS attacks. Experts advise both organizations and the public to enhance security measures and rely on official sources.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Cyberattacks on Israeli government entities have surged by 82% in the lead-up to the elections.
- Over 1,200 new election-related websites were identified, with one in 47 suspected of malicious intent.
- Overall cyberattacks on Israeli digital assets rose 55%, with energy and infrastructure sectors seeing a 107% increase.
- Activist groups are leaking sensitive information and planning DDoS attacks on key government sites.
- Past voter data leaks from 2020 are being offered for sale, and police/soldier data from last year is being re-circulated.
- Experts urge the public to use official channels and verify information, and organizations to bolster defenses.
Cybersecurity researchers are warning of an unprecedented surge in cyber threats and foreign influence attempts targeting Israel's upcoming elections. In the past two months, over 1,200 new websites related to the elections have been identified, with one in every 47 suspected of malicious intent. These include sophisticated phishing attacks, such as messages impersonating official voter information systems to steal personal data like ID numbers and addresses.
Overall cyberattacks on Israeli digital assets have increased by 55% compared to the same period last year, averaging around 2,700 attacks per organization weekly. The government sector has seen a particularly sharp rise of 82%, with approximately 2,300 attacks per week. The energy and infrastructure sectors experienced the highest jump at 107%.
Discussions about the Israeli elections on the public internet and the dark web have peaked, with a 110% increase in activity among attack groups since early October. Activist groups, particularly pro-Palestinian and Iranian ones, have intensified the leaking of sensitive information, including correspondence from public officials and documents from the IDF. Plans are also underway for Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks against key government websites, including the Prime Minister's Office, the Knesset, and the Bank of Israel.
Past election data leaks continue to be exploited. In October, a database containing approximately 6.5 million Israeli voter records, leaked during the 2020 elections, was offered for sale again. In another instance, details of 38,000 police officers and soldiers leaked last year were presented as a "new leak." This information could be used for scams and voter deception, such as fake messages requesting updated details or providing false information about voting eligibility.
Sivan Dror, Director of Research at Check Point, emphasized the critical nature of the coming days, stating that threat actors can exploit public attention to amplify their influence. She advised organizations to ensure their official websites and accounts are protected and to prepare for rapid responses to attacks. The public is urged to rely on official election channels, avoid sharing personal information via links in messages, and verify information before sharing.
