Israel Faces Wave of Iran-Backed Cyberattacks on Critical Institutions

A recent surge of Iranian-backed cyberattacks has targeted Israeli critical infrastructure, including over ten companies and the Shamir Medical Center, a major hospital. The attacks primarily used stolen usernames and passwords to infiltrate IT and digital service providers, aiming to disrupt operations and leak sensitive data. Although some patient data was leaked during the Yom Kippur attack on Shamir Medical Center, coordinated efforts by Israel's National Cyber Directorate, Shin Bet, government ministries, and the IDF contained the breaches quickly, preventing disruption to medical services and broader economic damage. Israeli officials condemned the attempt to harm a hospital, emphasizing the potential danger to human life. Initial claims of responsibility by a Russian-speaking ransomware group were later attributed to Iranian actors as part of a sustained campaign of espionage and sabotage against Israeli institutions. Authorities continue to urge vigilance and prompt reporting of suspicious activities to mitigate ongoing threats.