A hacking collective known as Handala has claimed responsibility for cyberattacks on three prominent Israeli entities: the Weizmann Institute of Science, cryptocurrency software firm Agura B.C. LTD, and the sensitive cargo handler Mor-logistics. The group announced the alleged breaches, threatening to release vast amounts of sensitive data and signaling a significant, coordinated operation against key sectors of Israel’s infrastructure. The origin of the Handala group is not explicitly stated, but their messaging positions them as being in opposition to the state of Israel.
The alleged victims represent diverse and critical parts of the Israeli economy and state apparatus. Agura B.C. LTD, a Haifa-based company founded in 2018, is a crucial behind-the-scenes player in the global cryptocurrency market, providing essential software for exchanges, trading, and digital wallet management. Mor-logistics is described as a trusted partner for multiple security agencies, responsible for transporting sensitive cargo. The Weizmann Institute of Science is one of Israel’s most prestigious research universities, which the hackers claim is involved in military and weapons development. The importance of these institutions suggests the attackers aimed to cause widespread disruption and expose highly sensitive information.
According to the hackers’ claims, the infiltrations are severe, with the group allegedly exfiltrating massive volumes of data. They have stated they took over 4 terabytes of data from the Weizmann Institute and 425 gigabytes from Mor-logistics. In their communications, the group issued threats, giving Agura’s clients a 48-hour deadline before control is lost and asserting that the full data dumps from the other breaches would be made public imminently. The group claims to have breached core infrastructures and seized internal documents and classified research data.
Allegedly Leaked/Compromised Data:
- Weizmann Institute of Science: Over 4 TB of data, allegedly including internal documents, sensitive research, and classified data.
- Mor-logistics: 425 GB of data from the logistics company’s systems.
- Agura B.C. LTD: Full control over the company’s software platforms used by cryptocurrency exchanges worldwide.
