JERUSALEM (JTA) — The Israel Defense Forces has launched a campaign to prevent its soldiers from being tricked by hackers from terrorist groups attempting to install spyware on their cell phones.

The IDF announced on Tuesday that it had launched Operation Broken Heart, so named because operatives pose on social media as attractive females to convince the soldiers to download infected applications for dating websites, as well as another about the FIFA World Cup.

This is not the first time that Hamas and other terror groups have attempted to infiltrate the IDF via soldiers’ cellphones and social networks. A previous campaign known as Operation Hunters Battle exposed the false identities terror groups used to attract soldiers, in order to raise soldiers’ awareness of the phenomenon and the importance of reporting incidents when they occur.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

Over 100 soldiers have been fooled into downloading the infected apps in the last six months, according to the IDF. Under the plot, the operatives befriended the soldiers on social media and then convinced them to download an infected app to their cellphone, giving the terrorists access to all of the information of their phones as well as turning on the recording devices and cameras on the phones.

The names of the apps are Glancelove, Winkchat, and Golden Cup. The apps were downloaded from the Google Store.

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

With your support, we’ll be ready for whatever 2025 brings.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount