Security News > 2022 > April > Hamas-linked Hackers Targeting High-Ranking Israelis Using 'Catfish' Lures

A threat actor with affiliations to the cyber warfare division of Hamas has been linked to an "Elaborate campaign" targeting high-profile Israeli individuals employed in sensitive defense, law enforcement, and emergency services organizations.

"The campaign operators use sophisticated social engineering techniques, ultimately aimed to deliver previously undocumented backdoors for Windows and Android devices," cybersecurity company Cybereason said in a Wednesday report.

"The goal behind the attack was to extract sensitive information from the victims' devices for espionage purposes."

Most recently, the threat actor was held responsible for attacks aimed at Palestinian activists and entities starting around October 2021 using politically-themed phishing emails and decoy documents.

"After gaining the victim's trust, the operator of the fake account suggests migrating the conversation from Facebook over to WhatsApp," the researchers elaborated.

"This campaign shows a considerable step-up in APT-C-23 capabilities, with upgraded stealth, more sophisticated malware, and perfection of their social engineering techniques which involve offensive HUMINT capabilities using a very active and well-groomed network of fake Facebook accounts that have been proven quite effective for the group."

News URL

https://thehackernews.com/2022/04/hamas-linked-hackers-targeting-high.html