Cyber Threat Intelligence
IS
Ransomware Victim Public Sector

Israel Ministry of National Security

Ransomware attack by Handala · Disclosed January 29, 2025 · 🇮🇱 Israel

Date Disclosed
Jan 29, 2025
2025
Threat Group
Handala
176 total victims
Country
🇮🇱 Israel
Industry
Public Sector

Incident Analysis

Israel Ministry of National Security was targeted by Handala ransomware, one of the most active ransomware groups in our database with 176 confirmed victims globally. The attack was disclosed on January 29, 2025, when Israel Ministry of National Security appeared on the group's dark web leak site.

Israel Ministry of National Security is based in Israel , operating in the Public Sector sector. Israel ranks #17 globally for ransomware attacks, with 132 victims in our database.

Sector context: Organisations in this sector hold valuable data and operational systems that ransomware groups seek to exploit for financial gain through encryption and data exfiltration.

Handala typically employs a double extortion model: first exfiltrating sensitive data from the victim's systems, then deploying ransomware to encrypt files. Victims face two simultaneous threats — paying to restore access and paying to prevent publication of stolen data. The group's leak site publishes victim names and exfiltrated data as leverage.

Data source: This incident record is sourced from public ransomware group leak site disclosures aggregated via the ransomware.live API. Disclosure date reflects when the victim was published on the leak site, which may differ from the initial date of compromise. This platform does not publish or link to stolen data. Last data update: May 15, 2026 12:01 UTC.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was Israel Ministry of National Security attacked by ransomware?

Yes. Israel Ministry of National Security was listed as a victim of the Handala ransomware group on January 29, 2025. The organisation is based in Israel and operates in the Public Sector sector. The disclosure appeared on the group's dark web leak site.

Which ransomware group attacked Israel Ministry of National Security?

Israel Ministry of National Security was attacked by Handala ransomware. Handala is one of the most active ransomware groups, having claimed 176 victims globally. The group typically employs a double-extortion model: encrypting the victim's files and threatening to publish stolen data.

When did the Israel Ministry of National Security ransomware attack occur?

The ransomware attack on Israel Ministry of National Security was disclosed on January 29, 2025. This date reflects when the victim was published on the threat group's leak site, which may differ from the actual date of initial compromise.

What data was stolen in the Israel Ministry of National Security ransomware attack?

The specific data stolen from Israel Ministry of National Security has not been independently verified by this platform. Ransomware groups typically exfiltrate data before encrypting systems and use the threat of publication to pressure victims. As a Public Sector organisation, Israel Ministry of National Security likely held sensitive business data, client information, and operational records.

How can organisations protect against Handala attacks?

To defend against Handala and similar threat actors, organisations should: maintain regular offline backups tested for restoration; implement network segmentation to limit lateral movement; deploy multi-factor authentication on all remote access; use endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools; conduct regular phishing and security awareness training; and monitor threat intelligence feeds for indicators of compromise (IOCs) associated with active groups.