Israel was the second-most targeted country for cyberattacks in 2024, with 1,550 recorded incidents, according to a report by Israeli cybersecurity firm Radware. The attacks, primarily from pro-Palestinian groups, surged amid the ongoing conflict with Hamas and Hezbollah. Ukraine ranked first with 2,052 cyberattacks, while the United States came in third.
The Israel National Cyber Directorate reported a threefold increase in cyberattacks on Israel since the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led assault. Iran and its proxies, including Hezbollah, have escalated their involvement in cyber warfare, intensifying the digital threats faced by Israel.
Radware’s report highlighted that hacktivist groups targeting Israel were motivated by political and ideological reasons. Pro-Palestinian groups such as RipperSec, Anonymous Muslims, and the Moroccan Black Cyber Army played a significant role in the attacks. Pro-Russian groups like NoName057(16) also contributed to the cyber offensive.
Globally, cyberattacks using Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) tactics increased by 550% compared to 2023, with the financial sector experiencing a 393% rise in attacks. The most affected sectors in Israel were government, education, and finance.
Radware VP Ron Meyran warned that the evolving threat landscape is being driven by geopolitical tensions, artificial intelligence advancements, and the growing sophistication of cyberattack methods. He emphasized that while cybercriminals do not need to be experts to inflict damage, organizations must adopt dynamic defense strategies to counter emerging threats.
Source : https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-ranks-second-in-list-of-countries-targeted-by-cyberattacks-in-2024-report/