Cyber Attacks Get Intense, Israel Increases Cyber Security

Israel enhances national cybersecurity. (photo: doc. pixabay)

JAKARTA - The Israeli government on Monday, May 2, ordered communications companies to increase their cybersecurity after increasing hacking attacks from various parties.

"New regulations are currently being implemented in which mandatory and unified standards have to be met," Israel's Ministry of Communications and National Cyber Directorate said, as quoted by Reuters.

Under the new rules, companies must formulate plans to protect communication networks using a combination of monitoring and control mechanisms to enable building an up-to-date picture of cyber protection while ensuring privacy.

"We are trying to put proper standards on communications companies to protect Israel and create a kind of 'Iron Dome' from cybersecurity attacks. We suffer thousands of cyberattacks every year," Communications Minister Yoaz Hendel said in a news release. meeting.

Israel uses its Iron Dome air defense system to intercept rockets fired by Palestinian militants, mostly from Gaza. Hendel said the risks are currently increasing, along with more digitization.

"Communications networks are attractive targets for cyberattacks by adversary elements," Hendel said, citing the potential for damage or service outages and leaks of stored information.

According to cybersecurity firm Check Point, there was a 137% annual spike in the average weekly attacks against Israeli companies, to nearly 1,500 per week, in the first three months of 2022.

Gaby Portnoy, Israel's new cybersecurity czar, said in the last month alone that Israel had seen a sharp increase in attacks trying to bring down websites. He accused Iranians of carrying out many of these attacks. However, this accusation is not supported by accurate evidence.

Last month, he noted, denial of service (DDos) attacks aimed at bringing down government websites were initiated through telecom providers but ultimately failed.

Portnoy said Israeli telecommunications companies have excellent cybersecurity but the new regulations, which include higher levels of surveillance, would be an improvement.