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High-ranking IDF Officials in Israel Now Mandated to Utilize iPhones

Android smartphones designated for military communication, as reported by The Jerusalem Post and Israel National News. This new directive is applicable to senior IDF officers from the lieutenant colonel rank and higher. They will be required to utilize iPhones for all official communications instead of Android devices. The IDF aims to mitigate the potential threats of cyberattacks on high-ranking officers that could jeopardize troop security. Furthermore, the Israeli army seeks to standardize operating systems and streamline security protocols and updates. Israel National News highlights that the IDF has been supplying devices to officers holding the colonel rank and above for military purposes. In recent times, the IDF ceased support for Android devices and has been distributing solely iPhones.

The military’s belief was that iPhones offered enhanced security due to their more resilient nature against hacking and tracking. Android devices will be allowed for personal use, but not for operational and command functions. The new regulations now extend to ranks of lieutenant colonel and above. As reported by Forbes, this decision by the IDF follows closely on the heels of Google’s recent security achievement concerning Pixel phones. In October, Google’s devices were added to the U.S. Department of Defense’s Information Network (DoDIN) approval list, a list that previously only included iPhones and Samsung products.