Share of crime incidents among individuals in Israel 2021, by type

According to a survey conducted in Israel in 2021, online crime accounted for 6.5 percent of all crime incidents. According to the respondents, this type of crime constituted the most common one. The share of online bullying (shaming) stood at 2.2 percent, making it the second-most prevalent crime. Among those most likely to fall victim to cybercrime in the country were those between the ages of 45 and 54 (8.1 percent), followed by those between the ages of 35 and 44 (7.6 percent).

Information and identity theft most common cybercrimes

In the same year, information theft, unauthorized distribution of such, and identity theft were the leading cybercrime incidents against individuals in Israel . Each of these crimes affected nearly 40 percent of the victims. Information or data theft refers to the act of stealing digital information stored on various platforms, such as bank account information, passwords, etc. Identity theft, on the other hand, is when criminals steal someone else's identity and use it to commit fraud in that person's name. Cybercrime is not just an issue that affects individuals. Cyber attacks and fraud often target businesses and organizations. Public sector organizations were the most affected in 2021 and 2022 , with more than 3,200 reported cybercrime incidents worldwide. The information sector was the second most affected sector with over 1,800 incidents reported in the same year.

Israel's thriving cybersecurity industry

In recent years, Israel has created an experienced cybersecurity workforce through a combination of mandatory military service and investment in creating a leading military cyber intelligence force. The number of cybersecurity companies in the country has nearly tripled in the decade since 2011. By 2021, the number will reach 469 companies. Nearly 20 percent of the cybersecurity companies worked with connected devices, IoT (Internet of Things), and control systems in 2018 . Another 15 percent of companies were involved in data protection, encryption, and privacy. An example of a company in this field is Check Point, the most successful company in the field of cyber security and cyber solutions in the country. Between 2017 and 2021, the company has seen a constant growth in its revenues, reaching 2.2 billion U.S. dollars.