H&M Israel says targeted by Iranian cyberattack
Iranian hackers have targeted H&M Israel and are threatening to release customer data, according to Hebrew media on Sunday.
A group identified as N3tw0rm has warned that it could release 110 gigabytes of data from H&M Israel unless its demands, which have not been publicly specified, are met.
Several other Israeli companies, including Veritas Logistic, have recently been targeted in similar cyber attacks, according to reports. In this case, the hackers demanded 3 bitcoins ($ 170,000) as a ransom, the Haaretz daily reported.
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Experts believe N3tw0rm is affiliated with Iran-linked Pay2Key, which in the past claimed to have violated Israel Aerospace Industries and Israeli cybersecurity firm Portnox. Last year, the hacking group released documents relating to companies using Portnox’s services, including Bezeq, Elbit, El Al, healthcare provider Clalit, etc., according to the Ynet news site. The companies are among the most important companies in Israel.
Israeli cybersecurity firm Check Point issued a warning about Pay2Key in November, after a series of attacks on Israeli companies. The hacking group installs ransomware in the networks of its victims, which allows hackers to take control of data or systems, and threatens to leak corporate data, then demands Bitcoins as a ransom payment, according to the hacker. ‘Warning. Check Point traced some of the transactions back to an Iran-based Bitcoin exchange.
The National Cyber Security Directorate has warned that coordinated attacks on Israel are expected to mark Iran’s annual Quds Day this week and the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
The actions, which are expected to take place around May 7 and be coordinated by anti-Israel hackers around the world under the “#OPJerusalem” banner, will aim to spread propaganda messages through corrupted websites, SMS and attacks aimed at grabbing public attention, management said in a statement in April.
Iranian protesters burn Israeli and American flags during their annual anti-Israel Al-Quds rally, in Jerusalem, Tehran, Iran, June 8, 2018. (AP / Ebrahim Noroozi)
Iran launched Quds Day, or Jerusalem Day, in 1979, the year of the Islamic Revolution. He commemorates it with anti-Israel speeches, events and threats to “liberate” Jerusalem from Israeli control. Every year, management warns of expected attacks related to the day.
This year, the day approaches Israel’s Jerusalem Day, celebrated on May 10, which marks the unification of the capital during the Six Day War of 1967.
Management noted that last year thousands of Israeli websites were temporarily corrupted in an attack on a web hosting company.
“The assessment is that this year there will be attacks that will not only focus on websites, but also attempts to damage the information systems of Israeli organizations,” the statement warned.
Tensions have mounted between Israel and Iran, with the countries blaming each other for recent attacks on each other’s ships which have caused damage but no injuries. In addition, Iran has blamed Israel for an explosion at a key nuclear facility last month that allegedly caused significant damage, but no injuries, destroying electrical systems.
