The Israel Protection Forces (IDF) have successfully banned the usage of Android telephones for navy communications, in keeping with experiences from The Jerusalem Publish and Israel Nationwide Information. The brand new rule applies to senior IDF officers from the rank of lieutenant colonel and above. They’re going to have to make use of iPhones as a substitute of Android for all official communications. The IDF is trying to cut back the danger of cyberattacks focusing on high-ranking officers that may compromise the safety of troops. Additionally, the Israeli military needs to standardize working programs and simplify safety controls and updates. Israel Nationwide Information factors out that the IDF has been offering telephones to officers with the rank of colonel and better for navy use. In recent times, the IDF stopped supporting Android gadgets, distributing solely iPhones.
The navy’s assumption was that iPhones have been safer as they have been more durable to hack and hint. Android telephones will probably be permitted for private use, however not for operational and command functions. The brand new guidelines now apply to lieutenant colonel ranks and above. In line with Forbes, the IDF’s resolution comes simply weeks after Google’s latest safety win for Pixel telephones. In October, Google’s telephones have been included on the U.S. Division of Protection’s Data Community (DoDIN) approval record. Solely the iPhone and Samsung gadgets had made that record earlier than.
New cyberattacks focusing on IDF officers?
Whereas the IDF has not defined why it determined to mandate the usage of iPhones for navy communications, Ynet International reported just a few days in the past that the Israeli Nationwide Digital Company has uncovered a “refined and unprecedented Iranian cyber espionage marketing campaign.” Codenamed “SpearSpecter,” the assault was attributed to a identified Iranian menace group linked to an Iranian intelligence group. The Iranian hackers have devised a sophisticated assault that targets particular people in Israel’s protection and authorities sectors, together with their households. The objective of the hack is to acquire long-term, persistent entry to targets moderately than stealing passwords and information. The assaults make use of social engineering campaigns the place targets are lured to “prestigious conferences” or “high-level conferences.” WhatsApp is a major instrument to provoke contact. After establishing belief with the goal, the attackers ship a malicious hyperlink the place the sufferer will enter login info.
The attackers will even attempt to set up malware on a higher-value goal’s gadgets. Known as “Tamecat,” the malicious software program implants a backdoor within the goal’s Home windows laptop, which is tough to detect. Additionally, the attackers transfer information by way of Telegram and Discord channels, which may masks the visitors and assist keep away from detection. Individually, The Publish talked about “honeypot” assault schemes focusing on troopers. Posing as ladies, the attackers tried to persuade victims to put in malware on their gadgets. They wished to acquire entry to the sufferer’s information, together with contacts, photographs, and real-time location information. In 2019, the IDF cautioned that Hamas had used WhatsApp to solicit info from troops on the Gaza border.
