Latest news with #NationalCyberDirectorate
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Camera lens behind Israel–Iran conflict: How Iran's missiles are finding their mark
Israeli footage blacked out, Iran turns to hacked cameras Live Events Farmers, homes and streets: Cameras become blind spots A global trend with local consequences Cheap cameras, expensive mistakes Experts push for better standards (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Iranian hackers are actively targeting internet-connected security cameras across Israel to track where their ballistic missiles have landed, Israeli officials have confirmed. These live breaches, now playing out in real time, are helping Iran improve the precision of its strikes as the Israel–Iran conflict Monday, Refael Franco, former deputy director general of Israel's National Cyber Directorate, issued a stark public warning: 'We know that in the past two or three days, the Iranians have been trying to connect to cameras to understand what happened and where their missiles hit to improve their precision.' Franco now leads the cyber crisis firm Code development comes after Israel's recent strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and Iran's retaliation with over 300 drones and missiles, according to Israeli defence sources. Iran's government reports over 200 deaths from Israeli attacks. In Israel, 24 people have died, and more than 800 have been Israel enforces a media blackout on the damage caused by Iranian missile strikes, Tehran appears to be filling the information gap through hacked footage from homes, traffic cameras, and business premises. A spokesperson for Israel's cyber directorate confirmed the targeting of connected surveillance systems: 'We've seen attempts throughout the war, and those attempts are being renewed now.'Iran is not alone in this playbook. In October 2023, Hamas used similar methods to gather intelligence for its surprise invasion. Gaby Portnoy, who served as Israel's top cybersecurity official until recently, revealed: 'The intelligence gathering that Hamas did from private cameras in the Gaza periphery was a disaster. Thousands of cameras were hacked over the years, both public and private, and were used to collect intelligence.'Many of the hacked devices were never designed with war in mind. Farmers installed them to prevent theft. Families placed them outside homes and kindergartens for safety. But the same cameras ended up broadcasting military activity near the Gaza fence. 'You try to protect yourself and meanwhile you are exposing yourself,' Franco the Hamas attack that killed over 1,200 Israelis and saw 250 abducted, Israel was granted legal authority to disable private and traffic-facing cameras showing sensitive areas. Yet according to Portnoy, 66,000 personal cameras still used default passwords in 2022 — a number that may have barely changed isn't just an Israeli problem. After Russia invaded Ukraine, Moscow 'likely used access to private cameras at key locations, such as near border crossings, military installations, and rail stations,' according to a joint advisory by the US National Security Agency and its allies. Ukraine responded by banning public webcams in 2022 and urging owners to stop broadcasting online. 'Russia is exploiting vulnerability of modern webcams to launch missile attack at Ukraine and adjust them in real time,' a government statement the US, the Federal Communications Commission banned Chinese-made cameras from several vendors that same year, citing security private surveillance market is expected to grow from $54 billion in 2024 to $89 billion by 2030, according to MarketsandMarkets Research. But many of these systems are weakly secured. Some cameras still stream footage live online by default. Many retain factory-set passwords like '1234'. A study by BitSight Technologies this month found that 40,000 security cameras worldwide were exposed on the internet — 14,000 of them in the US.'Most people don't look at the security features of the device they're buying. So for the vendor there is no incentive to beef up security of such systems,' said Peleg Wasserman, a cybersecurity architect at a global energy added: 'Consumers need to remember that they're not the only ones who may have access to this camera. I've seen people that put a camera outside the home without knowing that they're also filming their neighbours, or a sensitive object, or even giving a panoramic view of a city which may be useful for targeting.'Cybersecurity professionals stress that higher-end systems with regular firmware updates and strong configuration settings are crucial. 'Higher-grade security camera systems from vendors that take cybersecurity seriously will offer extensive configuration settings allowing for more device and communications customisation,' said Geoff Kohl of the Security Industry Association, as reported by the same time, he warned users to assume their cameras may be attacked: 'Presume your security video systems could be targeted.'Despite numerous red flags and official advisories, many users continue to favour cost over security. And in war, that choice has digital dimension of the Israel–Iran conflict is intensifying. Pro-Israel hacking group Predatory Sparrow has claimed responsibility for recent cyberattacks on Iranian financial institutions, including a major bank and a crypto exchange. In turn, Iran's state media reported that Israeli forces launched a broad cyberattack against Iran's the missile war makes headlines, the cyberwar runs quietly — embedded in homes, farms, shops, and streets. Unsecured cameras, once intended for peace of mind, are now part of the people living in conflict zones — or anywhere with vulnerable tech — the message is blunt but clear: update your passwords, lock your devices, or risk turning your camera into someone else's eyes.(With inputs from Bloomberg)
See - Sada Elbalad
8 hours ago
- Politics
- See - Sada Elbalad
Iran Hacks Israeli Surveillance Cameras
Israa Farhan An Israeli cybersecurity official has revealed that Iran has successfully hacked private surveillance cameras across Israel in a bid to gather real-time data on missile strikes, including impact timing and accuracy of targets inside the country. The warning follows a wave of Iranian ballistic missile attacks earlier this week, which struck high-rise buildings in Tel Aviv in retaliation for Israeli strikes on Iranian territory. The cyber threat has prompted urgent alerts to Israeli citizens regarding the security of internet-connected home cameras. Rafael Franco, former deputy director-general of Israel's National Cyber Directorate, urged residents via public radio to either disable their security cameras or update their passwords immediately. Speaking to Bloomberg News, Franco explained that Iranian operatives had attempted to access footage in the days following the attacks to assess the exact locations and effectiveness of their missile strikes. Franco, who now leads the Israeli cybersecurity firm Code Blue, emphasized that Tehran intends to enhance its targeting precision by utilizing Israeli video data. This revelation comes amid a sharp escalation in cyber warfare between the two regional rivals. In parallel with the missile exchanges, pro-Israeli hacking group Predatory Sparrow claimed responsibility for cyberattacks on a major Iranian bank and a breach that disrupted the country's cryptocurrency exchange systems. Iran's state media reported a large-scale cyber offensive from Israel, targeting critical infrastructure across the Islamic Republic. An Israeli National Cyber Directorate spokesperson confirmed that internet-connected surveillance systems are increasingly being targeted as part of Iran's military strategy. read more Gold prices rise, 21 Karat at EGP 3685 NATO's Role in Israeli-Palestinian Conflict US Expresses 'Strong Opposition' to New Turkish Military Operation in Syria Shoukry Meets Director-General of FAO Lavrov: confrontation bet. nuclear powers must be avoided News Iran Summons French Ambassador over Foreign Minister Remarks News Aboul Gheit Condemns Israeli Escalation in West Bank News Greek PM: Athens Plays Key Role in Improving Energy Security in Region News One Person Injured in Explosion at Ukrainian Embassy in Madrid News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War Arts & Culture Zahi Hawass: Claims of Columns Beneath the Pyramid of Khafre Are Lies News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks Videos & Features Video: Trending Lifestyle TikToker Valeria Márquez Shot Dead during Live Stream News Shell Unveils Cost-Cutting, LNG Growth Plan Technology 50-Year Soviet Spacecraft 'Kosmos 482' Crashes into Indian Ocean News 3 Killed in Shooting Attack in Thailand
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Iran ramps up cyber efforts: Shin Bet blocks 85 attempted cyberattacks on Israelis
Among those targeted were senior officials in the defense establishment, political figures, journalists, academics, and media professionals. The Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) has thwarted 85 attempted cyberattacks by Iranian operatives targeting Israeli civilians over recent months, security officials revealed on Thursday. The campaign, which appears to be escalating, has focused on gathering personal data to potentially support future physical attacks inside Israel. In coordination with the National Cyber Directorate, the Shin Bet identified a noticeable increase in online infiltration attempts aimed at individuals in sensitive or public-facing positions. Among those targeted were senior officials in the defense establishment, political figures, journalists, academics, and media professionals. The attackers sought access to private devices such as mobile phones, computers, and email accounts, with the goal of extracting information including addresses, social connections, and routine travel routes. Authorities believe the purpose of this surveillance is to enable Iranian elements to plan attacks within Israel, possibly by leveraging locally recruited operatives. According to the Shin Bet, many of the attacks began with seemingly innocuous messages sent via platforms such as WhatsApp, Telegram, or email. These messages were often tailored to appear relevant to the recipient's background or profession in order to avoid raising suspicion. One frequently used method involved sending a link to what appeared to be a Google Meet session, which directed the target to a fake login page. If the victim entered their credentials, the attackers gained access to their Google account and associated data, including emails, saved passwords, location history, and cloud-stored media. In other cases, malware was embedded in documents or disguised as applications presented as legitimate files for reading or review. A Shin Bet official said that such activity reflects Iran's broader strategy of attempting to harm Israelis at the personal level. 'We continue to see unrelenting attempts by hostile entities to infiltrate and damage the lives of individuals,' the official said. 'These cyberattacks can be avoided with vigilance, responsible behavior, and caution online—especially by refraining from clicking on unfamiliar links.' The Shin Bet stated that it would maintain close cooperation with other security agencies to track, identify, and disrupt Iranian cyber operations before they can achieve their objectives.
