Following the Pulwama Attack, Amidst Heightened India-Pakistan Tensions, Pakistan's Cyber Force Claims to Have Hacked Indian Defense Websites; Security Agencies Remain on High Alert.
Cyber Attack: Tensions between India and Pakistan are already at a critical point, particularly following the recent terrorist attack in Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir. India has taken several b measures against Pakistan in response to this attack, and now this tension has manifested in the form of cyber attacks. In a recent development, Pakistani cyber hackers have targeted Indian defense institutions.
Pakistan Cyber Force's Claim
An X (formerly Twitter) handle named ‘Pakistan Cyber Force’ has claimed responsibility for hacking several Indian defense-related websites. They also claim to have compromised websites under the Indian Ministry of Defence, including entities such as the Military Engineering Services (MES) and the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA).
Sources suggest that these hackers may have accessed login credentials and sensitive data from these websites, potentially including personal information of defense personnel.
Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited Website Targeted
Furthermore, the Pakistan-operated cyber group also attempted to target the website of Armoured Vehicles Nigam Limited (AVNL), a public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Defence. Following this potential cyber attack, the AVNL official website has been taken offline as a precautionary measure to prevent any data breaches and to conduct a thorough security audit.
India's Preparedness and Security Measures
Indian cybersecurity agencies have taken this matter seriously. The national cybersecurity institutions and other technical teams are continuously monitoring these activities. They are ensuring that any potential cyber attack is identified and its impact mitigated in a timely manner.
