WASHINGTON, D.C. — Check Point Research discovered an Iranian-linked spyware campaign that sent fake bomb shelter alerts to Android users in Israel during missile strikes. Some Israelis with Android phones received a text offering a link to real-time information about bomb shelters while fleeing an Iranian missile strike.

The link downloaded spyware giving hackers access to the device's camera, location and all its data. The bogus texts were sent to recipients at the same minute as missile strikes. The operation was attributed to Iran.

"This was sent to people while they were running to shelters to defend themselves," said Gil Messing, chief of staff at Check Point Research. "The fact it's synced and at the same minute is a first," Messing said.

Iran has turned to its cyber operations to compensate for its military disadvantages in its conflict with Israel and the U.S. Since the war began last month, hackers supporting Iran have launched thousands of cyberattacks on companies and organizations in both the U.S. and Israel to undermine the war effort and critical supply chains.

Investigators at the Utah-based security firm DigiCert have tracked nearly 5,800 cyberattacks so far mounted by nearly 50 different groups tied to Iran. Most of the attacks targeted U.S. or Israeli companies, though DigiCert found cyberattacks on networks in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and other countries in the region.

"There are a lot more attacks happening that aren't being reported," said Michael Smith, DigiCert's field chief technology officer. The attacks can inflict damage on organizations with out-of-date security and impose demands on resources even when unsuccessful. Many of the attacks can be prevented by the latest cybersecurity precautions.