Thousands of Israelis receive threatening text messages containing their personal information, in what appears to be the latest attempt at psychological warfare by Iranian agents.
“This is your last chance to save yourself and your family. Our shagriruyot [embassies] are open to you. We know you,” the English-language message reads. Some recipients received a link to a page containing their personal information, including their national ID number.
The National Cyber Directorate calls the texts an “attempt at intimidation and social engineering with the goal of creating psychological pressure,” in a statement quoted by Hebrew outlets.
Yesterday, an Iran-linked hacking group claimed to have broken into former minister Ayelet Shaked’s mobile phone, sharing about 60 pictures and videos supposedly stolen from her device.
The group, called Handala, also claimed last month that it hacked the phones of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s chief of staff Tzachi Braverman and of former prime minister Naftali Bennett.
Iran has long been trying, in various ways, to recruit Israelis as spies by offering payment.
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From the Liveblog of
Sunday, January 4, 2026
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