Israeli Cyber Operation Targets Iranian Prayer App Amidst Rising Tensions
Amidst escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, a popular Iranian prayer application, BadeSaba Calendar, was reportedly hacked and used to disseminate messages urging Iranian military personnel to surrender. The incident occurred following joint airstrikes conducted by Israel and the United States targeting Iranian facilities, sparking retaliatory actions from Iran.
The BadeSaba Calendar Hack
The BadeSaba Calendar app, downloaded over 5 million times from the Google Play Store, is designed to provide Muslims with accurate prayer times based on their location. On Saturday, users across Iran began receiving a series of notifications urging them to lay down their weapons or join “the forces of liberation.” The messages, delivered over a 30-minute period, promised amnesty to those who surrendered and framed the strikes as a move towards freedom for the Iranian people. Wired and Yahoo News reported on the incident.
Examples of the messages included: “Assist has arrived” and “The regime’s repressive forces will pay for their cruel and merciless actions against the innocent people of Iran. Anyone who joins in defending and protecting the Iranian nation will be granted amnesty and forgiveness.”
Attribution and Cybersecurity Experts
While no party has officially claimed responsibility for the hack, cybersecurity experts suggest a strong likelihood of Israeli involvement. Jake Williams, vice president of R&D at Hunter Strategy and a former member of the NSA’s Tailored Access Operations unit, stated that the operation bears the hallmarks of an Israeli cyberattack. Yahoo News reported Williams’ assessment, noting that Israel is less concerned with avoiding attribution than the United States in such operations.
Targeting widely used applications like BadeSaba Calendar is considered an effective method for disseminating messages to a large audience. The Wall Street Journal also reported on the hack.
Broader Context of US-Israel-Iran Conflict
The cyberattack occurred in the wake of joint U.S. And Israeli strikes against Iran, described by former President Donald Trump as the beginning of “major combat operations.” Yahoo News reported on Trump’s statement made on Truth Social. Iran subsequently retaliated with strikes against Israel and U.S. Military bases in neighboring countries, including Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.
About BadeSaba Calendar
BadeSaba Calendar offers features such as visual and audio notifications for prayer times (Azan), reminders for appointments, an animated Qibla compass, and a rak’at counter. Google Play Store provides details about the app’s functionality and user reviews.