Israelis Aware of Cyber Risks But Lack Confidence in Defense

A recent study by Israel's National Cyber Directorate, released during National Cyber Defense Week, reveals a significant gap between public awareness of cyber threats and the perceived ability to defend against them. While 98% of Israelis are aware of risks like phishing, data leaks, and viruses, only 33% feel they possess sufficient knowledge to effectively protect themselves. The survey found that approximately 50% of Israelis encountered cyber threats in the past year, with two out of three receiving suspicious text messages in a single month.

During the pre-election period, the situation was particularly acute, with 67% of respondents receiving suspicious SMS messages in the preceding month, and 14% encountering messages with direct threats or provocations. Over the year, one-third of users fell victim to phishing, 28% were affected by malware infections, 13% experienced bank data theft, and 10% reported social media account breaches. Despite these figures, citizen response remains largely passive, with 56% simply deleting or ignoring suspicious messages. Only 23% warn their loved ones about potential scams, and a mere 10% report incidents to government authorities.

Despite the passive response to threats, 84% of Israelis employ at least one digital hygiene measure. The use of two-factor authentication (2FA) increased from 52% in 2025 to 61% in 2026. Nearly 54% install protective software, and 52% regularly change passwords. Public trust in the nation's ability to withstand large-scale cyberattacks remains high, with 70% believing in the country's defense capabilities and 79% feeling secure using government online services.

To address the issue, particularly since 37% of Israelis are unsure how to verify links, the Cyber Directorate has launched a free service called "Click Check." This tool allows citizens to check suspicious URLs and simultaneously report threats to specialists for the blocking of malicious resources.