Internet traffic in Iran dropped sharply after 5:30 PM local time on Tuesday, according to NetBlocks.
Iranian officials say the internet restrictions are temporary and aimed at defending against cyber threats.
Cyberattacks on Israel have reportedly spiked 700% since June 12, amid fears of broader digital conflict.
Iran is currently disconnecting from the global internet in order to combat cyber threats, amidst rising tensions with Israel. This follows a series of disruptions to internet access across the country, which began on Tuesday with massive outages and disruptions reported by citizens. According to NetBlocks, internet traffic from Iran dropped sharply around 5.30 PM local time, and Cloudflare confirmed that two major mobile carriers went offline temporarily.
SurveyAn Iranian government spokesperson stated that these restrictions are meant to protect civilians from the ongoing cyberattacks and are only temporary and targeted, The Verge reported. This follows reports that indicated a rise in blackouts and restricted access to digital services, such as VPNs and messaging apps. The civilians have also complained about the difficulties they are facing while using Telegram and WhatsApp. On the other hand, Iranian government claims that WhatsApp is currently being used for surveillance and has urged its citizens to remove the app.
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The internet shutdown occurs amid rising tensions between Israel and Iran. According to reports, the latest round of military and cyber hostilities between Iran and Israel has escalated following an Israeli strike on June 12. The reports added that the Iranian state continues to provide access to the national internet system. However, it may be reduced by up to 80%. The restrictions have also raised questions about communication and information.
According to cybersecurity firm Radware, cyberattacks on Israeli systems have increased by 700 percent since June 12, with the majority of the activity attributed to Iranian state-backed hacking groups. The reports also hinted at possible consequences beyond these countries, such as attacks on US infrastructure, if the conflict broadens.
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Ashish Singh
Ashish Singh is the Chief Copy Editor at Digit. He's been wrangling tech jargon since 2020 (Times Internet, Jagran English '22). When not policing commas, he's likely fueling his gadget habit with coffee, strategising his next virtual race, or plotting a road trip to test the latest in-car tech. He speaks fluent Geek. View Full Profile
