Iran and Hezbollah are being blamed for flooding Israel with threatening text messages, allegedly to cause mayhem.
On Wednesday night, around 5 million Israelis were the victims of a not-particularly sophisticated cyber attack.
The words were also rather charming, with gems like “Say goodbye to your loved ones,” and “Don't worry, you'll hug them in hell.” Who wrote these? A middle school student?
Israel's National Cyber Directorate was not thrilled either, characterizing the ruse as a “unsophisticated attempt to incite public panic.”
According to them, three different messages were sent, each carrying malicious links that led nowhere because they were shut down before the attack could acquire traction.
Fortunately, the Cyber Directorate quickly shut down those harmful URLs, effectively ending the operation.
But, how did they gain access in the first place? Israel claims Iran and Hezbollah hacked an Israeli cellphone service provider.
Conveniently, they're not saying which provider was at fault, most likely because someone is receiving an earful as we speak.
Many user accounts were compromised, but whether the hackers obtained any additional sensitive information is unclear—cue increased concern.
While Israel points fingers, Hezbollah and Iran remain silent, refusing to reject the claims.
The timing couldn't be worse, with tensions rising along the Lebanon-Israel border and deadly conflicts intensifying.
With hundreds killed and thousands injured in recent weeks, this cyber-attack only adds fuel to an already burning inferno.
So, if you're wondering if Iran and Hezbollah's “unsophisticated” cyberattack could worsen the situation, congratulations: it surely can.
Welcome to 21st-century warfare, in which your phone may become the front line.