#Fact Check: Viral Video Falsely Claims Israel Launched Nuclear Attack on Iran
Executive Summary:
A viral video circulating on social media inaccurately suggests that it shows Israel moving nuclear weapons in preparation for an assault on Iran, but a detailed research has established that it instead shows a SpaceX Starship rocket (Starship 36) being towed for a pre-planned test in Texas, USA, and the footage does not provide any evidence to back-up the claim of an Israeli action or a nuclear missile.
Claim:
Multiple posts on social media sharing a video clip of what appeared to be a large, missile-like object being towed to an unknown location by a very large vehicle and stated it is Israel preparing for a nuclear attack on Iran.
The caption of the video said: "Israel is going to launch a nuclear attack on Iran! #Israel”. The viral post received lots of engagement, helpingClaim: to spread misinformation and unfounded fear about the rising conflicts in the Middle East.
Fact check:
By doing reverse image search using the key frames of the viral footage, this landed us at a Facebook post dated June 16, 2025.
A YouTube livestream from NASASpaceflight is dated 15th June 2025. Both sources make it clear that the object was clearly identified as SpaceX Starship 36. This rocket was being towed at SpaceX's Texas facility in advance of a static fire test and as part of the overall preparation for the 10th test flight. In the video, there is clearly no military ordinance or personnel, or Israel’s nuclear attack on Iran markings.
More support for our conclusions came from several articles from SPACE.com, which briefly reported on the Starship's explosion shortly thereafter during various testing iterations.
Also, there was no mention of any Israeli nuclear mobilization by any reputable media or defence agencies. The resemblance between a large rocket and a missile likely added some confusion. Below is a video describing the difference, but the context and upload location have no relation to the State of Israel or Iran.
Conclusion:
The viral video alleging that the actual video showed Israel getting ready to launch a nuclear attack on Iran is false and misleading. In fact, the video was from Texas, showing the civilian transport of SpaceX’s Starship 36. This highlighted how easily unrelated videos can be used to create panic and spread misinformation. If you plan on sharing claims like this, verify them instead using trusted websites and tools.
- Claim: Misleading video on Israel is ready to go nuclear on Iran
- Claimed On: Social Media
- Fact Check: False and Misleading
Related Blogs
Executive Summary:
A video circulating on social media falsely claims that India’s Finance Minister, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, has endorsed an investment platform promising unusually high returns. Upon investigation, it was confirmed that the video is a deepfake—digitally manipulated using artificial intelligence. The Finance Minister has made no such endorsement through any official platform. This incident highlights a concerning trend of scammers using AI-generated videos to create misleading and seemingly legitimate advertisements to deceive the public.
Claim:
A viral video falsely claims that the Finance Minister of India Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman is endorsing an investment platform, promoting it as a secure and highly profitable scheme for Indian citizens. The video alleges that individuals can start with an investment of ₹22,000 and earn up to ₹25 lakh per month as guaranteed daily income.
Fact check:
By doing a reverse image search from the key frames of the viral fake video we found an original YouTube clip of the Finance Minister of India delivering a speech on the webinar regarding 'Regulatory, Investment and EODB reforms'. Upon further research we have not found anything related to the viral investment scheme in the whole video.
The manipulated video has had an AI-generated voice/audio and scripted text injected into it to make it appear as if she has approved an investment platform.
The key to deepfakes is that they seem relatively realistic in their facial movement; however, if you look closely, you can see that there are mismatched lip-syncing and visual transitions that are out of the ordinary, and the results prove our point.
Also, there doesn't appear to be any acknowledgment of any such endorsement from a legitimate government website or a credible news outlet. This video is a fabricated piece of misinformation to attempt to scam the viewers by leveraging the image of a trusted public figure.
Conclusion:
The viral video showing the Finance Minister of India, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman promoting an investment platform is fake and AI-generated. This is a clear case of deepfake misuse aimed at misleading the public and luring individuals into fraudulent schemes. Citizens are advised to exercise caution, verify any such claims through official government channels, and refrain from clicking on unknown investment links circulating on social media.
- Claim: Nirmala Sitharaman promoted an investment app in a viral video.
- Claimed On: Social Media
- Fact Check: False and Misleading
Introduction
Netflix is no stranger to its subscribers being targeted by SMS and email-led phishing campaigns. But the most recent campaign has been deployed at a global scale, affecting paid users in as many as 23 countries according to cybersecurity firm Bitdefender. In this particular campaign, attackers are using the carrot-and-stick tactic of either creating a false sense of urgency or promising rewards to steal financial information and Netflix credentials. For example, users may be contacted via SMS and told that their account is being suspended due to payment failures. A fake website may be shared through a link, encouraging the individual to share sensitive information to restore their account. Once this information has been input, it is now accessible to the attackers. This can create significant stress and even financial loss for its users. Thus, they are encouraged to develop the necessary skills to recognize and respond to these threats effectively.
How The Netflix Scam Works
Users are typically contacted through SMS. Bitdefender reports that these messages may look something like this:
"NETFLIX: There was an issue processing your payment. To keep your services active, please sign in and confirm your details at: https://account-details[.]com"
On clicking the link, the victim is directed to a website designed to mimic an authentic user experience interface, containing Netflix’s logo, color scheme, and grammatically-correct text. The website uses this interface to encourage the victim to divulge sensitive personal information, such as account credentials and payment details. Since this is a phishing website, the user’s personal information becomes accessible to the attacker as soon as it is entered. This information is then sold individually or in bundles on the dark web.
Practical Steps to Stay Safe
- Know Netflix’s Customer Interface: According to Netflix, it will never ask users to share personal information including credit or debit card numbers, bank account details, and Netflix passwords. It will also never ask for payment through a third-party vendor or website.
- Verify Authenticity: Do not open links from unknown sources sent by email or sms. If unsure, access Netflix directly by typing the URL into the browser instead of clicking on links in emails or texts. If the link has been opened, do not enter any information.
- Use Netflix’s Official Support Channels: Confirm any suspicious communication through Netflix’s verified help page or app. Write to phishing@netflix.com with any complaints about such an issue.
- Contact Your Financial Institution: If you have entered your personal information into a phishing website, you should immediately reach out to your bank to block your card and change your Netflix password. Contact the authorities via www.cybercrime.gov.in or by calling the helpline at 1930 in case of loss of funds.
- Use Strong Passwords and Enable MFA/2FA: Users are advised to use a unique, strong password with multiple characters. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication or Two Factor Authentication to your accounts, if available, to add an extra level of security.
Conclusion
Phishing campaigns which are designed to gather customer data through fraudulent means often involve sending links to as many users as possible, with the aim of monetizing stolen information. Attackers exploit user trust in online platforms to steal sensitive personal information, making such campaigns more sophisticated as highlighted above. This underscores the need for users of online platforms to practice good cyber hygiene by verifying information, learning to detect suspicious information and ignoring it, and staying aware of the types of online fraud they may be exposed to.
Sources
- https://www.bitdefender.com/en-gb/blog/hotforsecurity/netflix-scam-stay-safe
- https://help.netflix.com/en/node/65674
- https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/technology/tech-news/netflix-users-beware-this-netflix-subscription-scam-is-active-in-23-countries-how-to-spot-one-and-stay-safe/articleshow/115820070.cms
Executive Summary:
Apple has quickly responded to two severe zero-day threats, CVE-2024-44308 and CVE-2024-44309 in iOS, macOS, visionOS, and Safari. These defects, actively used in more focused attacks presumably by state actors, allow for code execution and cross-site scripting (XSS). In a report shared by Google’s Threat Analysis Group, the existing gaps prove that modern attacks are highly developed. Apple’s mitigation comprises memory management, especially state management to strengthen device security. Users are encouraged to update their devices as soon as possible, turn on automatic updates and be careful in the internet space to avoid these new threats.
Introduction
Apple has proved its devotion to the security issue releasing the updates fixing two zero-day bugs actively exploited by hackers. The bugs, with the IDs CVE-2024-44308 and CVE-2024-44309, are dangerous and can lead to code execution and cross-site scripting attacks. The vulnerabilities have been employed in attack and the significance of quick patch release for the safety of the users.
Vulnerabilities in Detail
The discovery of vulnerabilities (CVE-2024-44308, CVE-2024-44309) is credited to Clément Lecigne and Benoît Sevens of Google's Threat Analysis Group (TAG). These vulnerabilities were found in JavaScriptCore and WebKit, integral components of Apple’s web rendering framework. The details of these vulnerabilities are mentioned below:
CVE-2024-44308
- Severity: High (CVSS score: 8.8)
- Description: A flaw in the JavaScriptCore component of WebKit. Malicious web content could cause code to be executed on the target system and make the system vulnerable to the full control of the attacker.
- Technical Finding: This vulnerability involves bad handling of memory in the course of executing JavaScript, allowing the use of injected payloads remotely by the attackers.
CVE-2024-44309
- Severity: Moderate (CVSS score: 6.1)
- Description: A cookie management flaw in WebKit which might result in cross site scripting (XSS). This vulnerability enables the attackers to embed unauthorized scripts into genuine websites and endanger the privacy of users as well as their identities.
- Technical Finding: This issue arises because of wrong handling of cookies at the state level while processing the maliciously crafted web content and provides an unauthorized route to session data.
Affected Systems
These vulnerabilities impact a wide range of Apple devices and software versions:
- iOS 18.1.1 and iPadOS 18.1.1: For devices including iPhone XS and later, iPad Pro (13-inch), and iPad mini 5th generation onwards.
- iOS 17.7.2 and iPadOS 17.7.2: Supports earlier models such as iPad Pro (10.5-inch) and iPad Air 3rd generation.
- macOS Sequoia 15.1.1: Specifically targets systems running macOS Sequoia.
- visionOS 2.1.1: Exclusively for Apple Vision Pro.
- Safari 18.1.1: For Macs running macOS Ventura and Sonoma.
Apple's Mitigation Approach
Apple has implemented the following fixes:
- CVE-2024-44308: Enhanced input validation and robust memory checks to prevent arbitrary code execution.
- CVE-2024-44309: Improved state management to eliminate cookie mismanagement vulnerabilities.
These measures ensure stronger protection against exploitation and bolster the underlying security architecture of affected components.
Broader Implications
The exploitation of these zero-days highlights the evolving nature of threat landscapes:
- Increasing Sophistication: Attackers are refining techniques to target niche vulnerabilities, bypassing traditional defenses.
- Spyware Concerns: These flaws align with the modus operandi of spyware tools, potentially impacting privacy and national security.
- Call for Timely Updates: Users delaying updates inadvertently increase their risk exposure
Technical Recommendations for Users
To mitigate potential risks:
- Update Devices Promptly: Install the latest patches for iOS, macOS, visionOS, and Safari.
- Enable Automatic Updates: Ensures timely application of future patches.
- Restrict WebKit Access: Avoid visiting untrusted websites until updates are installed.
- Monitor System Behavior: Look for anomalies that could indicate exploitation.
Conclusion
The exploitation of CVE-2024-44308 and CVE-2024-44309 targeting Apple devices highlight the importance of timely software updates to protect users from potential exploitation. The swift action of Apple by providing immediate improved checks, state management and security patches. Users are therefore encouraged to install updates as soon as possible to guard against these zero day flaws.
References:
- https://support.apple.com/en-us/121752
- https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2024-44308
- https://securityonline.info/cve-2024-44308-and-cve-2024-44309-apple-addresses-zero-day-vulnerabilities/
