Iran In The Firing Line
In the Middle East there has been an increased role of cyber war and cyber security, much as the region is also at the forefront of experiments with new weapon systems.
Iran reported three cyber-attacks, within one week last December. At least one of the attacks was allegedly "state-sponsored." the governmant has claimed, saying that two of the these attacks in were repelled by the country's security shield, known as Digital Fortress or Dezhfa, which it is claimed has helped repel 33 million cyber attacks against the country in 2019
This month Iranian officials say that hackers damaged a small number of computers in a failed cyber-attack against the port of Bandar Abbas, the country's largest port in the Strait of Hormuz.
Details about the cyber attack remain unknown, although recent cyber attacks have managed to damage a number of private systems at the Shahid Rajaei port near Bandar Abbas and the Strait of Hormuz, said Mohammad Rastad, Managing Director of the Ports and Maritime Organisation.
Iran is currently in the process of developing a national Internet system, known as the National Information Network (NIN), in order to cut the country's dependency on international cyberspace. The network will also prevent Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) from helping Iranians bypass the Islamic Republic's censorship of the Internet, as data requests won't be routed outside the country. The plan was first announced in 2010 with an expected completion date in 2015. In May, the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution announced that the NIN is 80% complete.
The Intranet would allow the government to decide what content can be accessed by users, removing the need for absolute shutdowns like the one imposed during the protests.
Some Iranian newspapers warned the government against imposing such a decision on citizens, as things could easily spark out of control as they did after gasoline prices were raised in a sudden decision by the nation's leadership, according to an Iranian opposition group. A state-run daily called the announcement a "threatening message to the people," while another daily asked, "will the people and the private sector tolerate the Internet shutdown?"
This month, Israel's security cabinet met to discuss an alleged Iranian cyber attack on Israeli water and sewage facilities that took place in April. The attack did not cause substantial damage except for a few issues in local water systems, according to Israeli officials, but is still seen as a substantial escalation by the Iranians, especially since the target was civilian infrastructure.
Iran-linked hackers have targeted US-owned drug company Gilead Sciences Inc. in recent weeks as the firm scrambles to develop treatments for the Covid-19 virus. The hackers posed as journalists and sent emails to Gilead employees that were intended to trick them into sharing their passwords. It is not known whether any of the attempted attacks were successful.
Overall the increasing cyber incidents in the Middle East illustrate how this new frontline is a concern to governments.
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