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The Top 10 Worst Cyberattacks In The Middle East Revealed
Cybersecurity firm Positive Technologies has published a list covering the last 18 months of activity.
Over the last year and a half, the Middle East has witnessed a significant rise in cyberattacks, especially those posing a serious threat to organizations across the region.
Fedor Chunizhekov, Information Security Analyst at Positive Technologies, who compiled the list, explained, “The threat to the Middle East is very much real. Rapid advancement in technology and the growing independence on the internet means that attackers have novel and innovative ways to exploit vulnerabilities”.
Let’s check out some of the region’s worst attacks in the last 18 months:
Adalat Ali
In early 2022, Iranian hacktivists Adalat Ali successfully broadcast a 50-second message on streaming service Telewebion calling for further protests against the ruling Khamenei regime.
Bezeq And Cellcom DDoS Attack
In March 2022, a state of emergency was declared after a prolonged DDoS attack leading to Israeli government agencies, including the Ministry of Health, Internal Affairs, Prime Minister’s Office, and several major media outlets losing access to various services.
Public Address Systems In Palestine
In June 2022, public address systems in Jerusalem and Eilat were compromised by unnamed hackers, leading to false air raid sirens being broadcast for an hour.
Iranian Steel Plants Attack
Again in June 2022, an attack on three Iranian steel plants by hacktivist group Goneshke Darande disrupted processes leading to a liquid pig spillage resulting in a fire that halted production.
GamkenBot Scalper Bots
Attackers created bots that found and booked all available appointments using the Israeli booking service GamkenBot, before monetizing them and generally disrupting the service.
Cellebrite Data Breach
Israeli digital data firm Cellebrite was hacked to the tune of 1.7 TB of files in a massive data breach. The files contained all manner of proprietary backup software and other important information. No one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.
Iranian News Agency Attack
A group of hacktivists known as Black Reward Team stole around 250 TB of confidential information from Iran’s state-run Fars News in November 2022. The group also gained access to CCTV footage.
Vice Society Attack On IKEA
Ransomware group Vice Society targeted IKEA in Morocco and Kuwait in November 2022. The outlets experienced a data breach that was thought to have been facilitated through phishing emails.
Pro-Palestine Attacks On Israeli Companies
In January, the hacktivist group Electronic Quds Force launched a campaign targeting Israeli chemical production companies. Messages sent to employees told them to “Leave employment and look for a new one”. The hackers also uploaded screenshots of automated control system interfaces on their Telegram channel, proving the plant was compromised.
Irrigation System Disruption
Farm irrigation systems and wastewater treatment in the Jordan Valley were targeted by what appears to have been OpIsrael, an anti-Israel hacktivist team. The attack was successful due to weak authentication and vulnerabilities in programmable controllers, allowing the attackers to gain remote access.
In light of such a severe spate of attacks, Positive Technologies urges companies to adopt the latest technologies and security techniques to safeguard data and networks against increasingly sophisticated hacking.
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Google To Launch AI Hub In Saudi Arabia, Aiming For $71B GDP Boost
The tech giant also plans to develop local AI solutions, and train regional talent to foster innovation and entrepreneurship.
Google has announced plans to set up a cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) hub in Saudi Arabia, a move aimed at accelerating technological growth and economic development across the wider gulf region. The ambitious project aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, an initiative that champions technology and innovation as central to economic diversification away from the oil industry.
According to Google, the hub has the potential to contribute as much as $71 billion to Saudi Arabia’s economy. The initiative will likely speed up the adoption of AI across industries such as healthcare, retail, and financial services — not only within Saudi Arabia but also throughout the wider MENA region and beyond.
Yasir Al Rumayyan, Governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), highlighted the importance of the project for the Kingdom: “This partnership demonstrates PIF’s dedication to fostering an AI-friendly environment through investments in human capital and technology, upskilling thousands with cutting-edge tools to support our sustainable and innovative infrastructure goals,” he explained. Al Rumayyan also emphasized that Saudi Arabia’s combination of sector knowledge and long-term investment strategies makes it an ideal environment for global technology partnerships.
Also Read: Top Free AI Chatbots Available In The Middle East
A central aim of Google’s initiative is nurturing local talent. The AI hub will offer a range of training, research, and collaboration opportunities for developers, researchers, and entrepreneurs within Saudi Arabia. Google envisions training “millions” of people, helping to create a robust innovation ecosystem that supports entrepreneurship and ensures economic benefits reach all segments of society.
As international technology giants increasingly look to develop solutions tailored to regional needs, Google’s initiative reflects a progressive approach that leverages the strengths of local markets. With the potential to inject billions into the economy and strengthen digital capacities, Saudi Arabia could soon emerge as a prominent center for AI innovation in the Middle East.
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