CTech's Wednesday Roundup of Israeli Tech News

Western Digital takes a leap of faith with Israeli Jewish ultra-Orthodox female coders. A new initiative seeks to get Orthodox coders into high-paying tech jobs. One problem: searching for engineering solutions on a Kosher internet. Read more

Edward Snowden slams Israeli spyware firm. Speaking via video at an event in Tel Aviv, the American whistleblower said spyware by Israeli NSO played a role in the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Read more Hackers now opt for long term business models, says Cisco executive. The researchers at Talos, Cisco’s cybersecurity intelligence and research unit, have been tracking a recent shift in hacking strategy, according to Martin Lee, who heads the unit’s outreach program in EMEA and Asia. Read more

Ford to boost Israeli computer vision subsidiary with $12.5 million investment. The automaker acquired Israel-based computer vision and machine learning company SAIPS in 2016 as part of its autonomous car push. Read more

Moovit Maps Its Way All The Way to Microsoft. Israel-based public transit app developer Moovit announced Tuesday it will integrate its public transit information to Microsoft’s Azure Maps. Read more

Gaming software startup raises $16 million. Overwolf develops a platform that enables third-party developers to create modifications to existing PC games. Read more

It’s reigning men: 70% of all event speakers are men, new report finds. The most gender-balanced type of events were fundraisers, galas and social gatherings, according to a report by event management startup Bizzabo. Read more 

Israel Innovation Authority to sign cooperation agreement with automotive supplier Adler Pelzer. The agreement will see the authority assist Adler Pelzer with scouting for technologies developed in the local tech hub. Read more

News Briefs

El Al re-launches Tel Aviv-Manchester route. Read more

Biotech company Polypid raises $15 million. Read more

Hebrew University-Led Consortium to Establish Jerusalem Entrepreneurship Center. Read more