As tensions intensify in the Middle East, cyber warfare is increasingly becoming a critical part of modern conflict, operating quietly alongside visible military actions.
The impact is not limited to the conflict zone. A spokesperson from Europol, Jan Op Gen Oorth, indicated that Europe could face a rise in cyberattacks targeting infrastructure. There is also an expected increase in online fraud, driven by the surge of information related to the conflict.
Several cyber incidents linked to the situation have already been reported.
Surveillance systems appear to have been compromised, with CCTV and traffic cameras reportedly hacked to form monitoring networks ahead of military operations.
Multiple digital platforms have also been targeted. News websites and the BadeSaba app, a religious calendar application, were hacked to display messages.
In another case, Iran-linked hackers reportedly accessed data from Stryker, one of the world’s largest medical device companies. The company stated: “We have no indication of ransomware or malware and believe the incident is contained.”
Experts suggest that current cyber activities may be an early phase of more aggressive actions. Adam Meyers, senior vice president of counter adversary operations at CrowdStrike, said: “CrowdStrike is already seeing activity consistent with Iranian-aligned threat actors and hacktivist groups conducting reconnaissance and initiating DDoS attacks.”
Earlier in 2026, World Economic Forum highlighted the growing cybersecurity risks linked to geopolitical tensions in its Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2026 report. The report found that 64% of organisations are preparing for geopolitically driven cyberattacks, including threats to critical infrastructure, sabotage, and espionage.
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