Hackers targeting Israelis at unprecedented levels: How the war is escalating online threats

According to the association's recent findings, cyberattacks and online harassment attempts aimed at civilians have risen by significant margins in the past year. Edan Ring, Vice President of Community and Social Affairs at ISOC-IL, stated that these attacks have escalated by tens of percent, further illustrating that the effects of the war have reached beyond physical borders into the digital space, directly affecting individuals.

The association’s data revealed that the percentage of reports to its safe internet helpline related to cyberattacks has increased from 36% in 2023 to 45% in 2024. The most frequent complaint was the hacking of social media accounts, which accounted for 27% of the reports, marking a more than 20% increase from the previous year. Approximately 1,100 complaints were filed regarding this issue alone.

Other notable types of internet attacks included scams (17.6% of reports), sexual offenses (11.5%), and instances of impersonation and privacy invasion (10.9%). Platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram were the most common venues for these offenses. For the first time in years, Facebook was no longer the leading platform for these incidents, with 21.7% of reports stemming from WhatsApp and 19% from Facebook. Instagram came in third, accounting for 15.6% of complaints.

The Israel Internet Association has taken proactive steps to mitigate the spread of harmful content, sending hundreds of removal requests to platforms. In total, 322 requests were made to Facebook, with 98% being accepted, while 137 requests were sent to TikTok, with a 95% success rate.

Ring highlighted the importance of citizens taking responsibility for their own digital security by using protective measures like two-factor authentication, strong passwords, and remaining vigilant in the virtual space. Despite the association's efforts to remove harmful content, Ring emphasized that the first line of defense is personal awareness and caution in the face of rising cyber threats.