Iranian Hackers Breach Telegram Account of Journalist Rina Matzliah
Former Channel 12 news anchor Rina Matzliah warned that Iranian operatives hacked her Telegram account. The incident adds to a growing wave of cyberattacks targeting prominent Israeli figures and journalists ahead of the national elections.
Iranian operatives have hacked the Telegram account of prominent Israeli journalist and former Channel 12 news anchor Rina Matzliah, prompting an urgent public warning to her contacts. Matzliah, who has recently been promoting her new book based on the podcast "Mom, Dad and Me", posted an alert on her Instagram account advising followers to ignore any messages sent from her profile. "Important message: Iranians hacked my Telegram. Anyone who receives a message from me should know it is not me and disregard it. Thank you," Matzliah wrote.
The breach has raised serious concerns regarding the scope of the compromise and the sensitive information accessed by the threat actors. At this stage, it remains unclear whether the intrusion was confined solely to Matzliah's Telegram account or if additional data was compromised from her personal device. The identity of the hackers has not been independently verified, but her proactive warning underscores widespread fears over malicious messages dispatched to her professional and personal network.
Growing Trend of Cyberattacks on Public Figures
Matzliah is not the first high-profile Israeli figure to report such an incident. In December 2025, former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett announced that unauthorized actors gained access to his Telegram account after an Iranian hacker group claimed to have breached his device. Bennett clarified that his physical device was not compromised, but personal details, photographs, and correspondence—some authentic and some fabricated—were circulated online.
Similarly, former Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked was targeted in a cyberattack. In August 2025, Channel 12 reported that Iranian operatives gained access to her Telegram account using a malicious link. Just weeks prior, thousands of chat transcripts attributed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's adviser, Jonathan Urich, were leaked online, although the responsible parties in that specific case remain unidentified.
Shin Bet and Cyber Directorate Warnings
Matzliah's case aligns with targeted warnings issued by the Shin Bet security agency and the Israel National Cyber Directorate. Last August, the agencies warned of a wave of Iranian hacking attempts directed against journalists and media professionals in Israel. According to the alert, threat actors pose as reporters and public figures, contacting targets via WhatsApp and Telegram to gain access to private correspondence, journalistic sources, and sensitive information.
The timing is exceptionally critical due to the upcoming elections for the 26th Knesset. A report published by the Institute for National Security Studies warned of Iranian efforts to manipulate public discourse by exploiting leaked correspondence and disseminating synthesized or genuine information designed to deepen societal divisions in Israel.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also addressed Iranian interference efforts, warning in an interview with i24NEWS that Tehran seeks to disrupt the electoral process. The Israel National Cyber Directorate reiterated safety recommendations, urging the public to avoid clicking suspicious links, enable two-factor authentication, and verify the identity of senders through alternative communication channels.
