The cyberwar raging in the Middle East has no end in sight.

Since the outbreak of the Hamas-Israel conflict, the cyber warfare dimension has involved numerous threat actors and evolved significantly. The initial attacks began with hacktivist groups like Killnet and Anonymous Sudan targeting both Israeli and Palestinian institutions, including the Jerusalem Post and Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center.

The conflict quickly escalated to a global scale, with the FBI warning about increased cyber threats to US interests and fraudulent cryptocurrency fundraising schemes allegedly supporting victims. By late 2023, sophisticated operations emerged, including the Gaza Cybergang's use of Pierogi++ backdoor malware against both Palestinian and Israeli targets.

Throughout 2024, the cyber warfare intensified. Israeli forces reported blocking approximately 3 billion cyberattacks since the conflict's start. Notable incidents included Turkish hacktivists targeting a Tel Aviv movie theater and the Wirte APT group conducting espionage operations against Middle Eastern governments while launching wiper attacks against Israel.

Looking ahead to 2025, security experts anticipate continued sophisticated attacks, with a particular focus on Iran's role in the conflict. John Bambenek of Bambenek Consulting suggests that potential Israeli military strikes against Iran could trigger escalated cyberattacks targeting industrial control systems in the US and Europe. Security professionals recommend organizations strengthen their defenses through enhanced threat intelligence, AI-powered detection systems, and comprehensive employee training.