Israel is world's second-most targeted country by cyberattacks, Microsoft finds
"In cyberspace, you may not see missiles in the air, but there is no ceasefire," said head of the National Cyber Directorate, Yossi Karadi, in response to the report.
Israel is the world's second-most targeted country by cyberattacks, according to Microsoft's 2026 Digital Defense Report. The United States ranked first with 531 observed events, followed by Israel with 210. Taiwan and Japan were third and fourth, respectively.
The report revealed a 21% increase in ransomware attacks in Israel since 2025. Iran is identified as a primary source of Israel's cyber incidents, with the Islamic regime known for conducting extensive, multi-layered campaigns against Israel and other Middle Eastern adversaries.
Iranian forces have recently intensified their cyber and influence operations targeting military and information activities in Israel, aiming to disrupt strategic messaging and operations. Yossi Karadi, head of the National Cyber Directorate, stated that Israel is in a constant battle in cyberspace, emphasizing the need for an integrated national defense system to minimize the impact of attacks and maintain essential services even under a continuous threat.
Karadi highlighted the growing role of AI in the cyber landscape, noting the challenges it poses in accelerating attacks and altering the cyber environment. Despite the lack of a ceasefire in cyberspace, Israel continues to develop advanced capabilities, deepen collaborations, and strengthen national resilience by blocking attacks, preventing damage, and maintaining routine operations.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
