CyberSecurity news
Nicholas Kitonyi@NFTgators
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Nobitex, Iran's largest cryptocurrency exchange, has been targeted in a politically motivated cyberattack allegedly perpetrated by pro-Israel hackers. The attackers successfully drained over $90 million in cryptocurrency from the platform's wallets, subsequently rendering the assets inaccessible. Blockchain analytics firm Elliptic confirmed the theft, noting that the funds were deliberately destroyed rather than laundered, suggesting the primary intent was disruption and sending a political message linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The incident is part of an escalating conflict between Israel and Iran in cyberspace, with attacks targeting financial systems and media outlets.
The attack on Nobitex is a component of a broader campaign of cyber warfare between the two nations. In addition to the cryptocurrency theft, Bank Sepah, a major Iranian bank, also suffered significant outages as a result of the actions of pro-Israel hacktivist group Predatory Sparrow, who claimed responsibility for both attacks. The group stated that they deleted data, exfiltrated internal documents, and destroyed backups at Bank Sepah to maximize disruption. This follows previous cyber incidents between the two nations, raising concerns about potential escalations and retaliatory measures.
The severity of the cyberattacks prompted the Iranian government to severely restrict internet access across the country, with connectivity plummeting by over 97%. This action, typically reserved for periods of civil unrest or elections, aimed to hinder further cyber intrusions and potentially control the flow of information. Meanwhile, U.S. cybersecurity groups are issuing advisories, warning of potential retaliatory attacks by Iranian-affiliated actors targeting American companies in sectors such as energy, finance, healthcare, and logistics. This cyber conflict between Israel and Iran is being viewed as a watershed moment, highlighting the growing intersection of geopolitics and cybersecurity with potential global implications.
ImgSrc: www.nftgators.c
References :
- aboutdfir.com: Israeli-linked hackers seized and burned $90 million from Iran's Nobitex exchange
- Metacurity: Israeli-linked hackers seized $90 million from Iran's Nobitex exchange
- www.darknet.org.uk: Israeli-linked hackers seized and destroyed over $90 million from Nobitex, an Iranian crypto exchange.
- Web3 is Going Just Great: Israeli-linked hackers steal and destroy $90 million from Iranian Nobitex exchange
Classification:
- HashTags: #cyberattacks #cryptocurrency #Nobitex
- Company: Nobitex
- Target: Nobitex
- Attacker: Pro-Israel Hackers
- Product: Crypto Exchange
- Type: Crypto
- Severity: Major