Cyberattacks on the Middle East will continue to rise

Significance Cyber offensives in the Middle East and North Africa tripled year-on-year in the first quarter of 2024. This surge is directly linked to the geopolitical turmoil in the region, with cyberwarfare playing a critical role in the conflicts between Israel and Hamas, Hezbollah, the Huthis and Iran. Impacts Cybergroups will continue to target critical national infrastructure and media outlets, notably in Israel and the Palestinian territories. Cooperation between Iran, Russia and North Korea will play out in the cyberwarfare arena, with actors coordinating to mask attack origins. Regional governmental and private-sector efforts to implement data privacy and security regulations will receive a boost.