Russian hackers hit Benny Gantz’s phone in ‘unprecedented attack,’ report claims
The centre-left Blue and White party played down the report, according to Israeli media
Russian hackers struck the phone of Blue and White leader Benny Gantz in what an Israeli intelligence firm called an “unprecedented attack,” a report claims.
CGI Group, which Gantz hired to investigate a series of leaks from the center-left Blue and White party, said no sensitive information was gleaned from the phone of the former Israeli military chief of staff.
Blue and White played down the report, Israel’s Channel 12 News reported on Wednesday.
CGI said it was a “powerful and unprecedented attack by Russian hackers, a type we have never before encountered.”
The hackers also compromised the phone of the party’s chief of staff and campaign manager, as well as an adviser. In addition, the party’s computer network was infiltrated, according to the report.
CGI recommended that Blue and White file a police complaint, which was not done immediately.
In March, prior to the April national elections, the Israel Security Agency, or Shin Bet, informed Gantz that his phone had been hacked five weeks earlier by Iranian intelligence.
Gantz said the report had been purposely leaked close to the election to damage his chances.
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