An Israeli Border Police officer sits in front of computer monitors and radio transmitters in a control and communications room in Jerusalem. Photo: Nati Shohat/Flash90.

JNS.org – A joint Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Shin Bet security agency operation has uncovered a Hamas network aiming to hack the cellphones of Israeli soldiers by posing as women on social media in order to obtain sensitive information.

Israel’s “Operation Hunter’s Network” was launched after several soldiers reported experiencing suspicious online activity. Senior military intelligence officials said that “these enemy accounts would reach out to IDF soldiers online, sometimes in romantic ways and ask them to download applications that compromised their cell phones, infecting them with advanced technological viruses,” the Jerusalem Post reported.

After the virus was downloaded onto the phone, it would give Hamas access to pictures, locations, text messages and contacts. The virus also had access to the phone’s camera and microphone, and could record or take pictures without the soldier knowing it.

Following the investigation, the IDF concluded that it must raise awareness of these types of schemes and issued new guidelines to soldiers to be more aware of their online activities.