Israel boosts defense against cyberattack

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JERUSALEM, Oct. 14 (UPI) -- Israel is stepping up its cyberdefense and developing a digital "Iron Dome" system to combat the threats, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu said.

Speaking at the start of the weekly Cabinet meeting Sunday, Netanyahu said Israel suffers increased cyberattacks and efforts to penetrate its computer systems on a daily basis. The national cyberdefense task force is operating to thwart such efforts by developing a "digital Iron Dome" system, Israel Radio quoted him saying.

"Just as the Iron Dome missile defense system operates to intercept missiles and the security fence prevents the entry of infiltrators and terrorists, we will also have a similar defense mechanism against cyber attacks," Netanyahu said.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak has previously stressed the importance of defense in battling against cyberwarfare, Haaretz said. "Our goal with cyberdefense, which is the more important and difficult component, is to prevent damage. It is more than we can benefit from an offensive action," he was quoted saying.

Netanyahu last year announced the establishment of a cyberdefense task force, including a five-year budget with investments in academic research and development, the creation of a computer center and said incentives would be offered to lure Israeli experts in the field abroad to return home.