{"id":111949,"date":"2023-10-10T08:17:28","date_gmt":"2023-10-10T08:17:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com"},"modified":"2023-10-12T17:44:52","modified_gmt":"2023-10-12T17:44:52","slug":"israel-hamas-cyber-war-escalates-what-we-know-so-far","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.techopedia.com\/israel-hamas-cyber-war","title":{"rendered":"Hamas-Israel Cyber War Escalates: What We Know So Far"},"content":{"rendered":"

Just days ago, Hamas militants <\/span>launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, plunging Palestine and Israel into horrific conflict.<\/p>\n

So far, an estimated 2,200<\/a> <\/span>rockets<\/span> have been fired toward Israel by Hamas militants since October 7, with the total <\/span>death toll<\/span> totaling over 1,500<\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With the conflict between the two countries escalating, cyberthreat<\/a> actors and hacktivists have been engaging in offensive operations on both sides. <\/span>Reportedly<\/span>, around 15 known cybercriminal and hacktivist groups<\/a> have participated in <\/span>cyber attacks<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Some of the most notable groups among them are <\/span>Anonymous Sudan<\/span><\/a> and Killnet, allegedly Russian-state-sponsored groups, which have each publicly claimed they will target Israeli government systems.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Key Takeaways<\/span><\/h2>\n

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    \n
  • Approximately 15 cybercriminal and hacktivist groups have engaged in offensive cyber operations on both sides of the conflict.<\/li>\n
  • Notable groups include Anonymous Sudan and Killnet, which have publicly declared their intent to target Israeli government systems.<\/li>\n
  • Pro-Hamas threat actors have targeted Israeli government sites and engaged in DDoS attacks, while pro-Israel groups like the Indian Cyber Force have launched cyberattacks on Palestinian targets.<\/li>\n
  • The conflict’s cyber aspect poses risks of misinformation spread, and experts warn that it could escalate into a cyber war, with potential synchronization between cyber and on-ground military operations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    <\/div><\/div><\/span><\/p>\n

    A Look at the Offensive Operations of Pro-Hamas Threat Actors<\/span><\/h2>\n

    At this stage in the war between the two countries, there has been a substantial amount of activity leveraged against Israel by Pro-Hamas and Pro-Palestine threat actors.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Perhaps the most vocal has been Killnet, which issued a <\/span>statement<\/span> on its Telegram alleging that the Israeli government \u201csupported the terrorist regime of Ukraine<\/a>\u201d\u00a0 and had \u201cbetrayed\u201d Russia before warning that Israeli government systems would be targets.<\/span><\/p>\n

    However, one of the biggest attacks so far has been the sustained DDoS <\/a><\/span>attacks<\/span> against The Jerusalem Post\u2019s website. Although the publication hasn\u2019t confirmed who was behind the attack, Anonymous Sudan has claimed responsibility for the campaign.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Another active group, known as the Ghost of Palestine, has allegedly targeted over 20 government sites, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. <\/span>FalconFeeds<\/span>, which has been monitoring the group, has been questioning whether the group has been receiving support from external allies to enable these operations.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n

    \ud83c\udfaf \u201cCyber Shadows: Real Power Behind \u2018Ghost of Palestine\u2019 & \u2018Anonymous Sudan\u2019!\u201d \ud83c\udfad<\/p>\n

    \u201cGhost of Palestine\u201d has been fervently targeting Israel\u2019s key services. They\u2019ve hit over 20 government sites in the past day alone. Originating from a region where much of the infrastructure,\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/yZ2b10P9yZ<\/a><\/p>\n

    — FalconFeeds.io (@FalconFeedsio) October 9, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n