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Byte by byte: Iran and Israel’s escalating cyberwar

Economist Podcasts

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Israel's Cyberattacks in Iran

Israel has significantly advanced its cyber capabilities to conduct sophisticated attacks against Iran, with the hacker group 'Predatory Sparrow' serving as a state proxy in these operations. Notable cyber assaults include the disruption of Iran's rail network and petrol stations in 2021 and causing physical damage in Iranian steel factories in 2022, showcasing the unusual capacity for cyber operations to result in real-world consequences. Additionally, a substantial cyberattack in December took down around 70% of Iranian petrol stations. These aggressive tactics appear calculated, as the perpetrators strive to minimize civilian impact and prevent malware spillover, indicating a careful balance between offensive measures and responsible cyber conduct by the Israeli government against Iranian targets.

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