A prominent Orthodox Jewish news website was hacked on Wednesday in what appears to be an Iran-linked cyberattack, with pro-Iranian imagery and messages briefly taking over the site before it was restored.
What we know so far?
According to The Jerusalem Post, The website of Yeshiva World News, a popular Orthodox Jewish news site was hacked on Wednesday. For some time, people visiting the site saw a message in Farsi that said, “Now we are under their control. The Zionists are handcuffed.”
The page also showed an image of Ruhollah Khomeini and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei with Mojtaba Khamenei along with symbols linked to the Iranian regime.
However, No group has publicly claimed responsibility for the attack.
By around 2pm ET, the website seemed to be back under control, showing a message that said, “we will be back shortly.”
{{/usCountry}}By around 2pm ET, the website seemed to be back under control, showing a message that said, “we will be back shortly.”
{{/usCountry}}However, No group has publicly claimed responsibility for the attack.
Iran's cyberattack history: Is this part of a bigger pattern?
The attack on Yeshiva World News comes amid growing concerns about Iran-linked cyberattacks on Western targets.
According to Daily Mail, Iran-linked hacker group Handala recently claimed responsibility for a cyberattack on Stryker, a major medical technology company based in Michigan, which disrupted its global network and knocked thousands of employees offline. The group said the operation was carried out in retaliation for a US strike on a school in Minab.
Handala later posted on Telegram claiming it wiped more than 200,000 systems, stole about 50 terabytes of data, and shut down Stryker offices in 79 countries. "Our major cyber operation has been executed with complete success," the group said.
According to Daily Mail, Lee Sult who is a chief investigator at cybersecurity firm Binalyze warned that the Stryker breach was just the beginning. "The Stryker attack looks to be the first drop of blood in the water as a result of nation-state and hacktivist activity off the back of the Iran conflict," he said.
“This attack confirms Western organizations are not only in the adversary's crosshairs, but the adversary can also make the shot. More shots are coming,” he added.