Panic buttons in Israeli kindergartens hacked in cyberattack by Iran-affiliated group
Panic buttons in Israeli kindergartens hacked in cyberattack by Iran-affiliated group
Anti-Israeli hackers breached the panic button system of the Maagar-Tec company, using it to set off sirens and broadcast messages supporting terrorism in approximately 20 kindergartens.
Anti-Israeli hackers breached the panic button system of the Maagar-Tec company on Sunday, using it to set off sirens and broadcast messages supporting terrorism in approximately 20 kindergartens, according to the National Cyber Directorate. The hackers also sent threatening text messages to tens of thousands of citizens after compromising another system of the company. The hacker group Handala, which is affiliated with Iran, has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Maagar-Tec operates a system of panic buttons that allows homes and businesses equipped with the devices to receive assistance from a professional security center at the push of a button. These devices are equipped with speakers to facilitate communication between call center personnel and customers. However, on Sunday, about 20 of these systems installed in kindergartens across Israel began playing Arabic songs, messages supporting terrorism, and red alert sirens. Following the attack, Maagar-Tec was forced to disable its services.
The Handala hacker group, believed to operate with support or funding from Iran, also falsely claimed that it had breached the Ministry of National Security’s national command and control system, asserting that all Israeli residents heard the company’s messages.
The National Cyber Directorate issued a statement: “This morning, the National Cyber Directorate received reports of a breach into the panic buttons installed in several kindergartens. An investigation revealed that a cyber group had hacked into the interface of a private company supplying these buttons, using it to broadcast songs supporting terrorism and alarm sounds. Further investigation with the company confirmed that approximately 20 kindergartens were affected. Additionally, tens of thousands of intimidating text messages were sent to citizens through another system belonging to the same private provider.”
The Directorate advised system administrators in municipalities using the panic button management system to change their login credentials and adopt complex passwords. It also urged citizens who received the threatening messages to block and ignore them, clarifying that the messages cannot cause harm to their phones. The Directorate assured that it is working with Maagar-Tec to resolve the issue and coordinating with the Ministry of Education. The incident is currently under control.
Handala further claimed to have hacked into the Ministry of National Security’s computer systems and published what it alleged to be stolen information, including screenshots of protected space locations, lists of security guards, and photographs of weapons licenses. However, preliminary investigations suggest that this data was likely stolen from a private company rather than the Ministry of National Security.
The Ministry of National Security and the National Cyber Directorate responded: “The claims are under investigation. So far, no unusual activity has been detected in the Ministry’s systems, and comprehensive tests are being conducted as per protocol. All systems are currently operating normally, and efforts are ongoing to ensure the continuity of normal operations.”
