📡 @unlimitedhangout: This is one of the most important interviews about the ties between Israeli intelligence and its tech sector I've ever done. If you are following the Pegasus/NSO story or read my article on Toka, you will want to give it a listen!

Sources:
https://www.mintpressnews.com/pegasus-just-tip-israel-unit-8200-toka-spyware-whitney-webb/278042/


#toka #nso #pegasus #spyware #israel

Meet Toka, the Most Dangerous Israeli Spyware Firm You've Never Heard Of – Mint Press - 2021 - Whitney Webb

Toka was launched in 2018 with the explicit purpose of selling a “tailored ecosystem of cyber capabilities and software products for governmental, law enforcement, and security agencies.” According to a profile of the company published in Forbes shortly after it launched, Toka advertised itself as “a one-stop hacking shop for governments that require extra capability to fight terrorists and other threats to national security in the digital domain.”

Toka launched with plans to “provide spy tools for whatever device its clients require,” including not only smartphones but a “special focus on the so-called Internet of Things (IoT).” Per the company, this includes devices like Amazon Echo, Google Nest-connected home products, as well as connected fridges, thermostats and alarms. Exploits in these products discovered by Toka.

#Toka #IOT #Spyware #Israel

Israel has developed an extensive cyber-espionage industry capable of exploiting these vulnerabilities. One of the most significant players in this domain is Toka, a firm founded by former Israeli prime minister Ehud Barak and ex-occupation army cyber chief Yaron Rosen. Toka specializes in hacking security cameras, enabling operators to locate, breach, and monitor surveillance systems without detection.

The company’s technology is particularly effective against outdated or insecure camera models, making Dahua’s widespread usage in Hezbollah strongholds an exploitable weakness.
Internal documents obtained by Haaretz revealed the extent of Toka’s capabilities. AI-powered software maps every security camera in a target area, infiltrates their systems, and builds a comprehensive heatmap of movement patterns.

#Toka

2/2

"The weaponisation of everything." Everyday technologies like smart cars are increasingly dual-use or exploitable for offensive purposes, turning consumer devices into potential tools for espionage, sabotage, or hybrid warfare.

A recent article in Haaretz mentioned the emerging field of CARINT (car intelligence), where Israeli companies develop and sell advanced cyber tools that exploit connected vehicles' systems—such as hands-free Bluetooth, tire-pressure sensors, SIM cards, cameras, microphones, and other data streams—to track movements, identify targets among thousands of vehicles, fuse data for surveillance, and directly access audio/video feeds. At least three Israeli firms are active in this sector, turning everyday cars into intelligence-gathering platforms.
One company (#Toka, co-founded by former Prime Minister Ehud Barak and ex-army cyber chief Brig. Gen. (ret.) Yaron Rosen) has developed an offensive tool capable of hacking into a specific vehicle's multimedia systems to pinpoint location, track movements, and eavesdrop via built-in microphones and cameras.
Other firms like #Rayzone and #Ateros/Netline are mentioned for similar tracking and data-fusion capabilities.
What the article doesn't mention is that connected cars can be weaponized by gaining control over critical systems like brakes, steering, acceleration, or engines. This could lead to targeted assassinations, mass accidents, or terrorism by causing vehicles to crash intentionally.

In a more sinister scenario, fleets of autonomous or connected vehicles could be used en masse for coordinated attacks, such as ramming into crowds or infrastructure, amplifying the impact beyond a single vehicle.

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/security-aviation/2026-02-16/ty-article-magazine/.premium/your-car-is-spying-on-you-and-israeli-firms-are-leading-the-surveillance-race/

@LauraRuHK