Microsoft Reports Increase in Cyber Attacks and Virtual Campaigns by the Islamic Republic Against Israel

On Tuesday, October 16, Microsoft announced that since the onset of the Gaza war last year, Israel has become the primary target of cyber attacks and virtual campaigns by the Islamic Republic. In its annual 'Digital Defense' report, the company noted: 'Half of the Islamic Republic's hacking attacks from November 6, 2023, to July 2024 were focused on Israeli companies and targets, but since July of this year, in a significant change, only 10% of cyber attacks by Iranian-affiliated hackers have targeted Israel, while 35% of attacks have been directed at American entities and 20% at targets in the United Arab Emirates.' According to Microsoft, since the beginning of the war in Gaza, the Islamic Republic has also initiated numerous activities in cyberspace and social media aimed at destabilizing Israel. The report mentions a user account named 'Tears of War' that impersonated Israeli activists to criticize Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's handling of the hostage crisis by Hamas, and another account named 'Karma,' created by an Iranian intelligence unit, which presents itself as a representative of Israelis calling for Netanyahu's resignation. Microsoft also stated that 'Iranian services' created a Telegram account using the logo of Hamas's military wing to spread misinformation about hostages in Gaza and threaten Israelis, expanding their cyber infiltration operations beyond Israel while focusing on undermining international political, military, and economic support for Israel's military operations. Gabi Portnoy, head of Israel's cyber defense, called for the formation of a joint international front for defense and deterrence against cyber attacks from the Islamic Republic, emphasizing that Iran's cyber aggression is an international problem, not just an issue for Israel. The war between Israel and the extremist Islamist group Hamas began on October 6, 2023, when members of this group, supported by the Islamic Republic, attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251 others as hostages to Gaza. Efforts by Iranian-affiliated hackers to target the WhatsApp accounts of officials from the Trump and Biden administrations were noted, with Google reporting that hackers linked to the IRGC targeted the election campaigns of Trump and Biden. Microsoft indicated that Iranian-affiliated hackers targeted American officials ahead of elections. Israel has called for international cooperation to counter cyber attacks from the Islamic Republic. The United States has sanctioned two companies and four individuals in connection with the Islamic Republic's cyber operations. Several French government entities were also targeted in an 'unprecedented' cyber attack.