ISRAEL: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accuses Iran of carrying out 'non-stop' cyber attacks on computer systems in Israel

Record ID: 397804

  • Title: ISRAEL: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accuses Iran of carrying out 'non-stop' cyber attacks on computer systems in Israel
  • Date: 9th June 2013
  • Summary: TEL AVIV, ISRAEL (JUNE 9, 2013) (REUTERS) ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU ON PODIUM NETANYAHU ADDRESSING AUDIENCE AT CONFERENCE ON CYBER WARFARE IN TEL AVIV (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, SAYING: "In the past few months we have identified a significant increase in the scope of cyber attacks on Israel by Iran. These attacks are c
  • Embargoed: 24th June 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Israel
  • Country: Israel
  • Topics: International Relations,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA80QH1PIO4AZFY9A0E0K9ED689
  • Story Text: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday (June 9) accused Iran and its allies of carrying out "non-stop" cyber attacks on vital computer systems in Israel.

    "In the past few months we have identified a significant increase in the scope of cyber attacks on Israel by Iran. These attacks are carried out directly by Iran and through its proxies, Hamas and Hezbollah. The targets are of course our vital national systems, but not just them. Beyond electricity, water, trains, banks, each and every field of civil life, economy and not to mention security, is a potential or an actual target for cyber attack," he told a conference on cyber warfare in Tel Aviv.
    The Israeli leader gave no figures but said "vital national systems", which he did not identify, had been targeted. He said water, power and banking sites were also under threat.
    In 2011, Netanyahu established a national cyber directorate charged with protecting Israel's computer systems from disruption over the internet.
    Israel and the United States are widely believed to be behind a series of cyber attacks in recent years against an Iranian nuclear programme that they suspect is aimed at developing atomic weapons. Iran says its nuclear activities are peaceful.
    Two months ago, Israel said it weathered a pro-Palestinian cyber attack campaign against government websites. Israeli officials said those attacks briefly disrupted several sites but security protocols were subsequently updated.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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