This is How Iranian Intelligence Has Been Tricking Israeli Civilians
The Shin Bet revealed that Iran has been cynically exploiting the soft belly of Israelis – the hostages kidnapped to the Gaza Strip on October 7th
Mandi Kogosowski
| 16/01/2024
Photo by Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Reuters Connect
The Shin Bet revealed to the public on Monday several online platforms, suspected to be operated by Iran, which serve as a recruitment network via social manipulation of civilians. The targeted civilians were assigned tasks, including photographing the residential addresses of security personnel and figures who frequently appear in the media expressing views against Iran.
In the Shin Bet’s announcement, it disclosed that as of recently, Iranian security entities have been cynically and manipulatively utilizing online platforms, promoting activities vis-à-vis families of hostages. Thus, for example, the entities have staged gatherings near family homes and sent flowers and messages to their homes. These actions have been carried out with the assistance of fictitious online platforms.
As part of the protests advocating for the return of the hostages, these platforms are being utilized by Iranian security personnel to actively conduct operations such as hanging banners with slogans crafted by Iranians, photographing demonstrators, conducting "surveys," and more.
For the purpose of filling out those "surveys," individuals are directed to links to complete forms with personal details and specifications of their skills, all aimed at collecting extensive information about Israeli citizens and their activities for security-related tasks.
The fictitious platforms were exposed as part of the advanced tools and capabilities operated by the Shin Bet in monitoring the online space, and thanks to increased awareness among Israeli citizens about fake websites and malicious platforms.
The Shin Bet revealed that Iran has been cynically exploiting the soft belly of Israelis – the hostages kidnapped to the Gaza Strip on October 7th
Photo by Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Reuters Connect
The Shin Bet revealed to the public on Monday several online platforms, suspected to be operated by Iran, which serve as a recruitment network via social manipulation of civilians. The targeted civilians were assigned tasks, including photographing the residential addresses of security personnel and figures who frequently appear in the media expressing views against Iran.
In the Shin Bet’s announcement, it disclosed that as of recently, Iranian security entities have been cynically and manipulatively utilizing online platforms, promoting activities vis-à-vis families of hostages. Thus, for example, the entities have staged gatherings near family homes and sent flowers and messages to their homes. These actions have been carried out with the assistance of fictitious online platforms.
As part of the protests advocating for the return of the hostages, these platforms are being utilized by Iranian security personnel to actively conduct operations such as hanging banners with slogans crafted by Iranians, photographing demonstrators, conducting "surveys," and more.
For the purpose of filling out those "surveys," individuals are directed to links to complete forms with personal details and specifications of their skills, all aimed at collecting extensive information about Israeli citizens and their activities for security-related tasks.
The fictitious platforms were exposed as part of the advanced tools and capabilities operated by the Shin Bet in monitoring the online space, and thanks to increased awareness among Israeli citizens about fake websites and malicious platforms.
