Israel sets up the cyberdome defense system to combat Iranian hackers

Israel is known for its Iron Dome defense system that protects it from incoming missiles, but is now also focusing on building a “cyber dome” to defend against online attacks, especially from Iran.

Aviram Atzaba, head of international cooperation at Israel’s National Cyber ​​Directorate, described the cyber war as a silent but important war. Israel has faced an increase in cyber attacks by Iran and its allies, such as Hamas and Hezbollah, although these attacks have so far not caused major damage.

Since the start of the recent conflict with Hamas, approximately 800 major cyber attacks have been thwarted, targeting government organizations, the military and civilian infrastructure. However, some attacks, such as those on hospitals in Haifa and Safed, have been successful in stealing patient data.

To improve its cyber defenses, Israel’s National Cyber ​​Directorate has spent the past two years building a centralized system to protect the entire Israeli cyberspace in real time. This effort involves close cooperation with allies, including the United States, as all states face cyberterrorism.

Iran is a formidable opponent in cyber warfare, which focuses on sabotage, intelligence gathering and spreading propaganda. Chuck Freilich, a researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies, highlighted Iran’s increased investment in cyberwarfare after experiencing vulnerability from previous attacks.

Although Israel is a strong player in cyber defense, Freilich warned that Iran’s capabilities are likely to improve with support from Russia and China, among others. Atzaba emphasized the importance of quality technology and effective use in combating cyber attacks, describing the cyberdome as a proactive defense system similar to the Iron Dome for missiles.

Israel’s cyber prowess is attributed to collaboration between the public, private and academic sectors, as well as the involvement of “white hat” hackers who help identify vulnerabilities. Atzaba emphasized the importance of cooperation to effectively protect Israeli cyberspace.