In a move reflecting deepening concern over digital vulnerabilities, the Israel Defense Forces is preparing to sharply tighten restrictions on mobile-phone use by its senior command, according to a report by Army Radio. The decision stems from lessons drawn after the October 7 attack and an internal assessment that information security protocols require a significant overhaul.
For years, the IDF’s senior officers, from the rank of colonel upward, have been issued only iPhones for military use, after the army halted the distribution of Android devices. According to the report, the shift to Apple devices was driven by a belief that iPhones pose a lower risk of hacking and unauthorized monitoring.
But the new measures mark a notable escalation. First, the restrictions will now apply to officers from the rank of lieutenant colonel, dramatically expanding the number of personnel subject to the rules. Army Radio described the change as bringing “hundreds” of additional officers into the circle of limitations.
Second, and more consequentially, the IDF is expected to issue a direct order prohibiting officers from holding any military phone that is not an iPhone. Under the new directive, Android devices will be allowed only for private use, and will be barred entirely from all military communication.