Israel bans Androids for senior officers in cybersecurity push

Amid ongoing security concerns during the protracted Gaza conflict, Israel is taking new measures to bolster cybersecurity within its military ranks. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are set to expand restrictions on mobile phone usage for senior officers, mandating that personnel at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and above use only iPhones for official communications.

The move aims to allow the IDF to enforce stricter controls and regulate security updates on devices used by senior officers. The policy is reportedly motivated by the perception that iPhones offer stronger security protections than Android devices, Android Authority reports.

Israeli intelligence agencies have repeatedly highlighted the risk of social engineering attacks by hostile militaries and organizations, including Hamas. These attacks often exploit messaging apps such as WhatsApp, which can serve as “honeypots” to lure soldiers into disclosing sensitive information or inadvertently installing malware. Such breaches can compromise troop locations in real time and allow unauthorized access to files or media stored on their devices.

This policy expansion builds on previous restrictions, which applied only to officers from the rank of Colonel up to the Chief of the General Staff. The new mandate will now encompass hundreds of additional senior officers.

The IDF has also been conducting internal drills and training programs across multiple ranks to educate personnel on the risks associated with social engineering attacks. Officers are being advised to limit their use of social media and messaging apps in ways that could expose their locations or sensitive operational information.

The new directive will reportedly be enforced in the coming days. This may also be the first step to a wider crackdown on the use of Android phones for any military communications across more ranks, Israeli publication CTech quoted the state-funded Army Radio or Galatz. However, it notes that Android phones will be permitted for personal use.

The announcement comes just days after French authorities allegedly began pressuring GrapheneOS to install a backdoor into encrypted services, forcing the maintainers of the custom ROM to leave the country.

By Vafa Guliyeva