Oleg Brodt, Director of Research and Innovation at Ben-Gurion University’s Cyber Defense Research Center, described the beeper operation in an interview with Channel 7 as “an unprecedented event, certainly not on this scale.” He noted that the incident represents a turning point in connecting the digital and physical worlds.
Brodt outlines two primary hypotheses regarding how the operation may have been conducted:
Exploding Battery Theory
A less likely theory suggests that the beeper’s battery was overloaded to such an extent that it overheated and exploded.
Supply Chain Attack
The preferred theory, according to Brodt, posits that explosives and an activation mechanism were implanted into the devices during the manufacturing or transportation process.
Brodt emphasized the high level of complexity required for such an operation, as it demands a deep understanding of the specific device, access to its supply chain, and advanced technological capabilities. He added that such a move would require long-term planning and preparation.
According to Brodt, several nations with advanced capabilities, including the U.S., China, and Russia, could potentially execute such an operation. He also noted that Israel is not the only country with the ability and motivation to carry out this kind of action. It’s important to remember that Israel has not claimed responsibility for the operation, and it is only being attributed to them.
While the identity of the operatives remains officially unknown, the operation marks a significant development in the integration of cyber capabilities with physical operations. This raises new questions about the security of electronic devices and supply chains in the future.
