The Iranian hacker group Handala claimed responsibility for breaching the emergency systems of Maager-Tec at 20 kindergartens across Israel, playing rocket sirens, Arabic messages, and songs that support terror on Sunday morning.
The breach reportedly exploited Maager-Tec's interfaces, which are responsible for emergency button systems at various institutions across Israel.
In addition to disrupting schools, hackers reportedly sent tens of thousands of threatening text messages to Israeli citizens.
Advice released by the National Cyber Directorate stated that these messages were not dangerous or capable of causing damage to phones and that recipients should simply block the sender and delete the messages, according to reports in Israeli media.
Handala, in turn, mocked the National Cyber Directorate's advice on their social media.
“Earlier this morning, the National Cyber Directorate received reports of a breach involving emergency buttons installed in several kindergartens. Investigations revealed that a cyber group had accessed the private supplier's system, using it to broadcast terror-supporting songs and alarm sounds,” a spokesperson for the National Cyber Directorate corroborated on Sunday.
Ministry of National Security HackedHappening now:1- Hacking the comprehensive integrated management system of the regime's shelters by Handala2- Sound the red alert by Handala3- People Go to shelters4- Handala Close the Doors... https://t.co/twSJ04j98G pic.twitter.com/nvYCyyEfqq
— Handala (@Handala_Backup) January 26, 2025
Meanwhile, the Handala hackers claimed to have gained access to the national security ministry systems and stole numerous files containing information on Israeli police officers.
Ministry of National Security HackedImages of security officers identification cardsWe, Handala, are pleased to announce that we have successfully infiltrated the Ministry of National Security of Israel. https://t.co/oW3mbuJSxk pic.twitter.com/OH9NVSCg7T
— Handala (@Handala_Backup) January 26, 2025
The ministry and the National Cyber Directorate both reported no unusual findings in their systems, according to KAN.
In the build-up to the hack, Handala published a video on X/Twitter showing two dragons launching fire toward each other, followed by the message "HANDALA ON THE WAY."
This, in turn, was followed by the emblems on Handala vs the State of Israel, ending with the message "WHO WILL WIN?"
Turn on the timers!To the Ministry of National Security of Israel,Over the past five years, many of your most sensitive and top-secret files have mysteriously been exposed. pic.twitter.com/ven7spw5mh
— Handala (@Handala_Backup) January 25, 2025
Handala is named after a Palestinian resistance symbol of a cartoon child created by Naji al-Ali in 1969 and was notably used as the mascot of the 2009 Iranian Green Movement, which demanded the removal of then-Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad from office.