Shin Bet: Islamic Republic Agents Attempted to Approach Families of Hamas Hostages

On Monday, January 15, the Israeli internal security agency, Shin Bet, revealed various ways in which Islamic Republic officials are using social media to act against Israel. According to the news outlet 'Israel Hayom', Shin Bet exposed in December 2023 an operational network and recruitment of Israeli citizens by Iranian government officials for tasks in Israel. Shin Bet stated on Monday that these tasks included photographing the homes of Israeli security officials and other officials who frequently appear in the media and publicly speak against the Islamic Republic. According to the report, the Islamic Republic was operating through fake accounts to distort issues related to the Gaza war. Shin Bet claims that Islamic Republic agents were using fake websites and social media to call for gatherings near the homes of the families of hostages, sending bouquets and messages to them. On October 7, Hamas militants killed at least 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in a terrorist attack in southern Israel and took about 240 hostages, including children, women, and the elderly, to Gaza. Approximately 100 of these hostages were released during a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in November, but Israel states that 136 hostages remain in Gaza, including several elderly men over 80 years old and a number of young women. Islamic Republic agents also posed as part of legitimate demonstrations held for the release of hostages, promoting activities such as installing their own posters, photographing protesters, filling out 'survey' forms, and more. For these 'surveys', users are directed to links that require them to complete their personal information to collect data on Israeli citizens and recruit them for security tasks. Some of these activities were discovered by Shin Bet itself, while others were reported by citizens who noticed the suspicious nature of these activities and informed the authorities. According to the report, profiles on social media platforms TikTok, Instagram, and Telegram included accounts posing as far-right activists and supporters of the hostages, as well as a fake page named 'Kan+' of the Israeli public broadcasting service. It also included a Telegram channel called 'Return the Hostages Home Now', which exploited the legitimate activities of this group to gather information and contacts. Earlier, the Israeli National Cyber Directorate issued a statement on January 25 warning about phishing attacks by Iranian hackers. According to the Times of Israel, Iranian hackers posed as the American cybersecurity company 'F5', sending a fake email to IT officials of several Israeli companies and organizations. This email contained instructions to download something that appeared to be an update but was actually a type of malware. The Israeli National Cyber Directorate, in collaboration with an unnamed business, identified the hackers as members of an Iranian offensive cyber team. This warning statement to Israeli organizations and companies noted that this fake email demonstrates the hackers' significant preparedness. The statement regarding the 'fake F5' malware included technical details on damage control and detection and urged IT staff to report any components of the malware found in their systems. The Israeli National Cyber Directorate also published another report on January 25 regarding cyberattacks on Israel since the beginning of the war against Hamas. According to this report, the series of attacks originated from 15 groups associated with Iran and its affiliates, Hezbollah, and Hamas. The warning from the Israeli National Cyber Directorate: Beware of 'update' emails from Islamic Republic hackers. Microsoft: Hackers linked to the Islamic Republic have attacked defense companies with 'new malware'. Israel thwarted an Islamic Republic and Hezbollah cyberattack on a hospital. Disclosure of user identities under the pretext of 'cutlet'; explanations by Mehdi Sarami Far about security in cyberspace. The hundredth day of the war in Gaza; an unstable region, hostages in limbo. The head of the Israeli army staff: Military pressure is the only way to bring back the hostages.