Bennett Denies Phone Hack After Iranian Group Claims Telegram Breach

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett confirmed Wednesday night that his personal Telegram account had been compromised but firmly denied claims by an Iranian hacker group that they had hacked his phone.

The Iranian-linked Handala group claimed responsibility for the breach, boasting that they accessed Bennett’s iPhone and mocked his past experience in cybersecurity. “Even so, how ironic that your iPhone 13 fell so easily into the hands of Handala,” the group posted as part of what they’ve dubbed “Operation Octopus.”

Bennett quickly responded, asserting that the group’s claims were false and that his phone had not been breached. “The images shared by the group were faked,” he stated, adding that the phone in question is no longer in use. According to Maariv, Israel’s internal security agency Shin Bet has launched an investigation into the incident.

As a former prime minister, Bennett remains a high-profile figure under the protection of Shin Bet’s elite 730 Personal Security Unit. His devices, like those of other senior officials, are subject to rigorous security protocols.

The Handala group has recently escalated its cyber campaigns against Israel. Just days earlier, the same group published the personal details of Israeli engineers and technicians and offered a $30,000 bounty for further information about those involved in national defense projects.

While Bennett downplayed the severity of the incident, experts warn that the cyber front has become a central battlefield in Iran’s ongoing hybrid warfare strategy against Israel. From data leaks and misinformation to digital impersonation and social engineering, these tactics aim to sow confusion and undermine public trust.

This latest claim by Handala may well be a part of that broader disinformation campaign. Israeli cybersecurity officials emphasize that such claims must be verified before being taken at face value especially when made by adversarial sources with a record of fabricating evidence.

Bennett, who led Israel during a critical period of security challenges and pandemic recovery, is no stranger to cyber threats. He previously served as CEO of a cybersecurity startup and is considered highly aware of digital vulnerabilities.

Israel’s cybersecurity apparatus continues to monitor and respond to these provocations, maintaining the Jewish state’s position as a global leader in cyber defense.

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