As Bloomberg reports, hackers were targeting Israeli government and media websites in alliance with Hamas. Some of the threat-actor groups, such as Killnet, has ties to Russia. Killnet purported to have temporarily disrupted Israeli government websites, including the website of security agency Shin Bet.
According to cybersecurity firm Group IB, another group known as AnonGhost breached a mobile phone application that warns Israelis of missiles.
Rob Joyce, cybersecurity director at the National Security Agency, reportedly said that while cyberattacks hadn’t played a big role in the conflict thus far, “There may be significant events coming, more hacktivists, more people taking up cyber arms in defense of their cause.”
Israeli defense leaders were defiant and resolute in the wake of the Hamas attack, as BankInfoSecurity reports. Yotam Segev, co-founder and CEO of Israeli firm Cyera, wrote on LinkedIn: “This attack is akin to 9/11, an unprovoked terrorist assault on civilians. Israel’s response will be swift and mighty.” Eitan Worcel, an Israel Defense Force veteran who launched U.S.-based firm Mobb in 2022, wrote elsewhere on LinkedIn, “I hate this helpless feeling and I so wish not to feel that ever again.”
Although the situation in Israel could weigh on cybersecurity shares, many companies should be able to avoid any negative impact.
As CNBC reports, JPMorgan analyst Brian Essex reassured clients that many Israeli cybersecurity companies should be able to largely avoid ill effects from the violence. “Israel has been the source of a substantial amount of talent, development, and innovation over the years and, as a result, several companies within our coverage universe maintain a meaningful presence in the country,” Essex wrote in a research note. “As events continue to evolve, we believe companies with operations in Israel are well prepared to manage geopolitical disruption in the region, but we would not be surprised to see headlines pressure more exposed stocks within our coverage universe.”
Nvidia has canceled an AI conference that was scheduled to be held in Tel Aviv, as CNBC reports separately.