Israel Second Most Targeted by Cyberattacks After the United States

Israel has emerged as the second most targeted country globally by cyberattacks, trailing only the United States, according to Microsoft’s annual report. The Microsoft Digital Defense Report 2026 revealed that Israel faced 210 cyber-related events attributed to state actors during the period studied. This places Israel behind the U.S., which recorded 531 such events, but ahead of Taiwan with 193 and Japan with 172 incidents. Notably, Israel leads among targeted nations in the Middle East and Africa.

The report highlights ongoing cyber operations conducted by actors linked to Iran, Russia, China, and North Korea. These campaigns aim to gain access to sensitive systems, gather intelligence, or disrupt infrastructure. For years, Iran-linked groups have targeted Israel, using cyber operations to conduct espionage and disruption while avoiding conventional military confrontation.

The threat landscape is rapidly evolving with the integration of artificial intelligence, which enables attackers to accelerate their operations, automate campaigns, and exploit vulnerabilities more quickly. Additionally, Israeli businesses and individuals have seen a 21% increase in ransomware attacks since 2025, underscoring the growing cybersecurity challenges the country faces.