Suspected terrorist attack on communications equipment in Lebanon leaves 3,000 dead
Fear of a repeat of the accident in the Middle East grows… “Low possibility of a large-scale cell phone explosion”
Security experts: “We must prepare for large-scale cyber warfare, including communications disruption and electric vehicle hacking”
(Baalbek=AP/Newsis) A radio that exploded in a house in Baalbek, eastern Lebanon, on the 18th (local time). The photo is a video clip. 2024.09.19.
(Seoul = Newsis) Reporter Jeongmin Yoon = Recently, in Lebanon, a large number of communication devices, including pagers, exploded, resulting in over 3,000 casualties, and fears about communication devices are rising throughout the Middle East. This is because people are concerned that their cell phones, which they were carrying in their pockets or hands, may also be used as explosives, as communication devices they had in their hands or pockets suddenly exploded.
In this incident, it is believed that the attack targeted a communication device that is not commonly used by the general public but is frequently used by a specific armed group. The Lebanese government has asked the public to refrain from using portable communication devices for the time being until the exact cause of the incident is determined in case of an unexpected incident.
However, experts generally agree that the possibility of causing an accident by planting an explosive device in a cell phone used by an unspecified number of people is low. This is because it is difficult to specify a target due to the nature of cell phones used by anyone regardless of gender or age, and there is a high possibility of being caught during the operation.
Rather, experts unanimously agreed that, as mobile phones and automobiles become increasingly smart, there is a possibility that another form of cyberwarfare could emerge, in which backdoor programs are secretly installed to cause social unrest or errors in certain situations.
‘Beep’, a modern-day Trojan horse… How did the explosion attack occur?
(Sidon=AP/Newsis) On the 18th (local time), a parked car in Sidon, southern Lebanon, was damaged by a radio explosion that appeared to have occurred internally. Following the simultaneous explosion of thousands of pagers across Lebanon on the 17th, which killed 12 people and injured over 2,800, on the 18th, radios used by Hezbollah were reported to have exploded in various parts of Lebanon, killing at least 20 and injuring 450. 2024.09.19.
According to the Lebanese Ministry of Health on the 20th (local time), 37 people died and 2,931 were injured in explosions of portable communication devices such as pagers, walkie-talkies, and shortwave radios that occurred across the country over two days from the 17th.
This explosion is being pointed out as an Israeli terrorist act against Hezbollah, a pro-Iran militant group. Hezbollah claims that Israeli spies intercepted the pagers, which are mainly used by Hezbollah members, during distribution, packed them with small explosives and parts, and then detonated them simultaneously. Hezbollah has recently been using walkie-talkies and pagers instead of cell phones, judging that existing communication networks are vulnerable.
Foreign media outlets, including the New York Times (NYT), cited U.S. officials and reported that there is a possibility that a small amount of explosives weighing 1 to 2 ounces and a remote detonator were planted next to the battery of each device during the production and distribution of the pagers.
(Beirut=AP/Newsis) On the 18th (local time), Hezbollah fighters are carrying one of the coffins containing the bodies of four people killed by a pager explosion in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon. On the 17th, 12 people were killed and 2,800 were injured when thousands of pagers exploded simultaneously across Lebanon, and on the 18th, radios used by Hezbollah exploded in various parts of Lebanon, killing at least 3 and injuring 100. 2024.09.19.
Security experts also reported that someone may have planted the explosive maliciously during distribution rather than during the product’s production. Robert Graham, CEO of Atlanta-based cybersecurity firm Errata Security, told the Wall Street Journal that “it is possible that a hacker detonated the battery inside the pager with a page containing malicious code, but it would be very difficult.”
He continued, “For this operation to be possible, the hacker would have to know the manufacturer and model of the pager, and the effect would not be as powerful as shown in the video.” He added, “It is highly likely that the explosive was placed inside (the device) along with the malware during shipment.”
Mikko Hypponen, a cybercrime adviser for Europol, also told the Times that “it is likely that the pagers had been modified in some way to carry out this type of attack,” adding that “the size and force of the explosion suggest that it was not simply a battery.”
Like pagers and walkie-talkies, cell phones can be used for explosive attacks at any time. This is because small explosives can be installed inside the cell phone. In fact, in 1996, a Hamas explosives expert died when a cell phone that had been secretly planted with explosives by the Israeli intelligence agency Shin Bet exploded.
However, experts point out that the return on investment is extremely low when used for large-scale group attacks like this beeper attack.
Future cyber warfare could kill by disrupting communications and hacking electric cars instead of exploding cell phones
(Seoul = Newsis) A participant in the hacking defense competition Code Gate is coding. (Photo = Newsis DB)
Rather, experts are warning that major countries around the world may weaponize smartphones and connected cars for future warfare, rather than the recent ‘beeper’ explosion attack. As smartphones become more popular, they are being used for voice and text communication, as well as for messengers, financial transactions, and information searches. As cars become smarter, they can be used as cyberwar weapons.
For example, it can stop the smartphones and cars of users in a certain area at a certain time. It can cut off external communication, causing extreme fear, and in the case of cars, it can even lead to fatal accidents.
Lim Jong-in, the special cyber advisor to the president, said, “In the case of automobiles, there is a possibility that they can be assassinated by manipulating the brakes, steering wheel, and airbags when hacked. Accordingly, we are making efforts such as establishing international automobile cybersecurity standards,” but added, “There is no such thing as perfect security. The reality is that hacking is possible at any time.”
Choi Sang-myeong, director of Stealthmore Intelligence, said, “Automakers are also realizing the dangers of car hacking and are hiring hackers to research defensive technologies.”
Meanwhile, it has been revealed that major intelligence agencies around the world have been trying to secure security vulnerabilities in major electronic devices and platforms such as Samsung, Google, Apple, and Microsoft (MS) for several years.
In 2017, WikiLeaks revealed that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) had been collecting a large number of zero-day vulnerabilities in Google, Apple, and Microsoft operating systems through its own hacking and through other intelligence agencies, external private contractors, and hackers.
Security experts also warn of the possibility of hacking of dangerous facilities such as nuclear power plants, in addition to cyber warfare using everyday electronic products or platforms, led by intelligence agencies. In the case of nuclear power plants, if a system malfunction occurs and the cooling water is paralyzed, the power plant can explode, and there are concerns that the power plant’s large-scale industrial control (SCADA) system defense technology is relatively low.
(Seoul = Newsis) Wolseong Nuclear Power Plant (Shinwolseong Unit 2, first on the right) (Photo = Newsis DB)
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