The Israel Defense Forces is set to bar Android smartphones from all army-issued lines used by officers from the rank of lieutenant colonel upward, requiring them to rely solely on Apple iPhones for official communication. The move follows a security review that concluded iPhones offer a lower risk of hacking and are easier to secure and update uniformly across the senior command.
Under the forthcoming directive, Android devices will still be permitted for private use, but they will be excluded entirely from any operational or command-related communication on military networks. Army Radio reports that the order will apply to “hundreds” of officers, extending from newly promoted lieutenant colonels up to the general staff, and is part of a broader effort to standardize the operating systems used at the top of the chain of command.
Military officials link the policy to persistent attempts by hostile groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iranian-linked actors to compromise soldiers’ phones using social engineering, “honeypot” profiles, and malicious links spread via messaging apps. Previous training exercises and internal drills simulating such lures will continue, but commanders hope that tightening control over hardware and software will further reduce the chances of sensitive data, locations, or operational patterns leaking from senior officers’ devices.
