The Israel National Cyber Directorate confirmed the renewed attempts to breach internet-connected cameras as part of Iran’s wartime intelligence operations
Iran is exploiting vulnerabilities in internet-connected surveillance cameras across Israel to gather real-time intelligence, underscoring a growing cyber risk that has been echoed in other global conflicts. The tactic was revealed in the wake of Iranian missile strikes on Tel Aviv earlier this week, prompting warnings from Israeli cybersecurity officials about the risk posed by unsecured private security devices. Refael Franco, a former deputy director general of the Israel National Cyber Directorate, urged the public to disable home surveillance systems or immediately change passwords, warning that Iranian cyber operatives were attempting to access cameras to assess missile impact zones and improve targeting accuracy.
The Israel National Cyber Directorate confirmed the renewed attempts to breach internet-connected cameras as part of Iran’s wartime intelligence operations. Although official imagery of missile strike locations remains restricted, photos have been widely shared on social media, potentially offering further intelligence to adversaries. This latest development follows similar cyber tactics by Hamas, which reportedly hacked thousands of surveillance cameras ahead of its October 2023 assault on Israel, gathering intelligence from both public and private feeds in border areas.
The use of private surveillance infrastructure for military advantage is not unique to the Middle East. A joint cybersecurity advisory released in May by the US National Security Agency and allied agencies detailed how Russia had used hacked security cameras around border crossings and military zones to monitor troop and material movement during its invasion of Ukraine. In response, Ukraine banned certain surveillance technologies in 2022 and later urged citizens to cease online webcam broadcasts to prevent Russia from adjusting missile strikes in real time. The growing weaponisation of everyday digital infrastructure in modern warfare highlights a broader shift in how cyber capabilities are shaping battlefield intelligence and strategic planning.
