IRAN-LINKED Hacktivist group Handala claims to have carried out a major cyberattack against the UAE, targeting Dubai Courts Department, Dubai Land Department, and Dubai Roads & Transport Authority. They allege that during the operation 6 petabytes of data were destroyed and 149 terabytes of sensitive information were stolen, framing the act as retaliation and a warning to regional governments; however, such claims remain unverified.
Handala is described as a pro-Palestinian group that is widely seen as a front for Iran-backed Void Manticore, and it has a history of phishing, data theft, extortion and destructive wiper attacks. The report notes that Handala has previously announced breaches against other entities, including an Israeli defence contractor and Stryker, and that the FBI is offering up to $10 million for information on the Handala hackers. According to Security Affairs, the group’s claims about the UAE breach are yet to be independently verified.