Thousands of Israeli surveillance cameras hijacked by Iran amid rising tensions. National security officials urge urgent reforms as cyber espionage threats intensify.
Iran Hijacks Israeli Surveillance Cameras in Massive Cyber Breach, Ignites National Security Alarm
In a dramatic escalation of cyber warfare, Iranian operatives have taken control of thousands of private surveillance cameras across Israel, transforming them into real-time espionage tools. The breach has triggered widespread outrage and intensified scrutiny over the country’s digital defenses during an already volatile period of conflict.
The breach was confirmed just days after Iran launched a missile strike on Tel Aviv in retaliation for recent Israeli actions. Israeli officials revealed that Iranian hackers had gained access to civilian-owned security cameras, using the footage to assess missile damage and fine-tune future targets.
Refael Franco, former deputy head of Israel’s National Cyber Directorate, issued a stark warning to citizens:
“Turn off your home surveillance cameras or change your password immediately.”
Franco, now the CEO of cybersecurity firm Code Blue, called the situation a national security crisis, stating, “Iran is using our own eyes against us.”
The National Cyber Directorate further confirmed that many of the compromised systems were internet-connected cameras—a significant number of them Chinese-made. The agency warned that these devices have become a favored target for Iranian intelligence operations, exploiting the lack of security on consumer-grade surveillance setups to gather military intelligence and monitor sensitive areas.
Not the First Time
This is not the first instance of camera-based cyberattacks. In October 2023, Hamas used similar tactics to breach thousands of cameras in southern Israel, which reportedly aided their deadly surprise assault that killed over 1,200 and resulted in 250 kidnappings. Former cyber chief Gaby Portnoy described that incident as a “disaster.”
Parallel strategies have also been deployed in Ukraine, where Russian hackers accessed traffic and municipal webcams to guide missile strikes. Ukraine has since banned open public surveillance and discouraged real-time broadcasting—a move Israeli cybersecurity experts now advocate.
Civilian Backlash and Global Vulnerability
The public response in Israel has been swift and intense. Social media exploded with demands for immediate regulation and widespread cybersecurity education. One Tel Aviv resident, whose neighborhood was exposed, posted:
“We’re under attack, and we handed them the tools to watch us do it.”
The incident highlights alarming global trends. A recent BitSight Technologies study revealed that over 40,000 security cameras worldwide including 14,000 in the U.S. were broadcasting live footage publicly online, often using default passwords like “1234.”
“These devices were never meant to be battlefield surveillance tools,” said Peleg Wasserman, a cybersecurity architect at a major energy firm. “But that’s exactly what they’ve become because people don’t take security seriously.”
In 2022, Israeli authorities had already flagged that over 66,000 cameras were dangerously exposed. Despite newer initiatives promoting two-factor authentication and granting officials the ability to disable cameras near sensitive sites, many remain vulnerable.
Escalation in the Digital War
The cyber breach follows Israel’s recent strike on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, prompting a spike in hostilities. While Israel is believed to have retaliated via attacks on Iranian banks and cryptocurrency exchanges, Iran’s focus on digital espionage appears only to be intensifying.
Franco concluded with a grim reminder that even the simplest camera whether in an apartment lobby or agricultural field can become a tool for enemy surveillance.
“You try to protect your home, your family,” he said. “But if you don’t secure your system, you’re showing our enemies exactly where to strike.”
