Israel’s military will require hundreds of its senior officers to use Apple iPhones for official communications, citing heightened cybersecurity risks and social engineering threats, particularly amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) plan to mandate the use of iPhones for official communications by officers holding the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and above. This measure aims to enforce stricter controls and regulate security updates on devices used by these personnel. The decision is reportedly driven by the assumption that iPhones offer superior security compared to Android devices.
The new directive comes more than two years into the conflict in Gaza, as Israeli authorities seek to limit cybersecurity incidents. Israeli intelligence agencies have issued repeated warnings regarding social engineering attacks orchestrated by hostile organizations, including Hamas.
These attacks often leverage messaging applications such as WhatsApp, luring soldiers into divulging confidential information or installing malicious software. Such operations can compromise real-time troop locations and allow for unauthorized access to files and media stored on devices.
This policy expands a previous restriction that applied only to officers from Colonel up to the Chief of Staff, now encompassing hundreds of additional senior officials. It forms part of a wider IDF initiative to curtail the use of personal mobile phones in sensitive capacities.
The IDF has also been conducting internal exercises and training across various ranks. These efforts aim to raise awareness about the dangers of social engineering attacks and to limit officers’ exposure to social media and messaging apps that could reveal their locations.
The new directive is expected to take effect in the coming days. This move could signal a preliminary step towards a more extensive crackdown on Android phone use for military communications across a broader spectrum of ranks. However, personal use of Android mobile phones will still be permitted.