Cyprus ranks among the countries attracting former officials from Israel’s military cyber unit, leveraging their expertise outside Israel. This trend underscores the island’s growing geopolitical importance in cybersecurity.
Radiant Research Labs and advanced tools
The establishment of Radiant Research Labs, a new Israeli company developing offensive cyber tools, fits this trend. Operating discreetly, the company collaborates with Western intelligence agencies. Under leaders Tal Slomka and Zvika Moskovitz, both ex-members of Unit 8200, Radiant develops advanced “zero-click” tools that penetrate devices without user interaction. In under three years, it has created around ten major technology systems, primarily supplying state agencies rather than acting as a direct spyware provider.
Ethical framework and international cooperation
Unlike companies such as NSO, Radiant focuses on working almost exclusively with democratic states, claiming adherence to stricter ethical and legal standards. Political changes in the U.S., especially with the return of Trump, appear to favour renewed aggressive cyber cooperation between Washington and Israel after a period of sanctions and restrictions.
Regional cybersecurity significance
Radiant actively supported Israeli authorities following the 7 October attacks and positions itself as a “next-generation” cyber-offense company, learning from the missteps of prior organisations accused of abuse.
The broader context shows rapid evolution in cyber espionage, with zero-click tools turning any device into a potential target. The relocation of specialised personnel to countries including Cyprus, Greece, Spain, and Portugal highlights the Mediterranean as an emerging hub for digital security expertise and operational activity.
Also read: Understanding hybrid warfare in Cyprus: Expert insight
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