Cracks in Pakistan's digital armour

Express Tribune

2 days ago

A shocking global data breach has compromised the Internet user credentials for over 180 million Pakistanis, according to a recent advisory from the National Cyber Emergency Response Team of Pakistan (PKCERT), exposing serious vulnerabilities and systemic gaps within the country's cybersecurity, law enforcement and legal frameworks. The exposed data includes usernames, passwords, emails, and URLs linked to widely used online services, noted the advisory issued Monday. The services affected range from global tech giants like Google, Apple, Microsoft, Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat, to critical platforms including government portals, banks, educational institutions and healthcare providers.
The breach originated from info-stealer malware, a type of malicious software that silently extracts sensitive information from infected devices and transmits it back to cybercriminals. Alarmingly, the stolen data was left completely unencrypted and openly accessible online, providing a goldmine for hackers.
This exposure immediately places millions of Pakistani Internet users at risk of identity theft, financial fraud, account takeovers and targeted phishing attacks. It highlights users' widespread habit of password reuse — with just one compromised password, attackers can potentially access multiple accounts across different platforms.
The fallout is already fueling a surge in 'credential stuffing' attacks, an automated technique in which hackers test stolen username-password combinations across various websites to hijack accounts. As this data circulates freely online, the scale and speed of such attacks are expected to rise, compounding the threat to Pakistan's digital ecosystem.
Data breaches are occurring with increasing frequency and severity around the world. The 2023 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report found that over 80 per cent of breaches involved compromised credentials, one of the most common and effective cyberattack vectors.
While this is a global trend, Pakistan faces additional challenges due to its limited cybersecurity infrastructure and low levels of public awareness. As highlighted in Trends in Cyber Breaches Globally, the country mirrors international patterns in terms of threats but lacks the institutional resilience and public preparedness necessary to respond effectively.
This latest breach pulls back the curtain on the recurring and alarming vulnerabilities within Pakistan's digital ecosystem. Between 2019 and 2023, over 2.7 million citizens' records from the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) were compromised. When a Joint Investigation Team uncovered the NADRA leak, they found personal information of citizens gathered from Karachi, Multan and Peshawar, underscoring how key parts of the country remain highly susceptible to cyber threats. Such incidents not only compromise individual privacy but also erode public confidence in digital governance, making the need for strong security measures even more urgent.
In the wake of the breach, Pakistan's digital security has come under intense international scrutiny. Global partners and investors are questioning the country's capacity to safeguard sensitive data in the face of repeated large-scale leaks. Cybersecurity risks are a key part of international due diligence, and a poor track record significantly diminishes Pakistan's appeal to foreign direct investment (FDI). Digital insecurity doesn't just deter investment, it also jeopardises international partnerships, technology transfers and broader participation in the global digital economy. The reputational damage from such incidents is not easily reversed, and demands wide-ranging reforms and demonstrable improvements.
PKCERT has advised the public to immediately change their passwords, ensuring they are strong and unique for each online account. It also recommends enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever possible. MFA adds an extra layer of security by requiring an additional form of verification — such as a one-time password (OTP), biometric scan or hardware token — alongside the standard password, all but eliminating the risk of unauthorised access, even if a user's password is compromised.
That said, cybersecurity responsibility should not fall solely on individuals. The recent breach of a local news channel's databases illustrates a more serious systemic problem: the profound disconnect between rapid advances in technology and the ability of Pakistan's law enforcement, judiciary and legal practitioners to keep up.
Investigating cybercrime to an acceptable degree requires a unique blend of technical, legal and forensic skillsets. Digital forensics, malware analysis and cyberthreat intelligence are areas where Pakistan's investigation officers are often inadequately trained and resource-deficient. Unlike traditional crimes that cross geography and national boundaries slowly, cybercrimes can propagate instantly. Tracing the electronic trail they leave behind requires specialists with the right skills and technology. Lack of it leads to poor evidence gathering, resulting in weak prosecution.
Lawyers and judicial officers face challenges too. Judges hearing cybercrime cases need to understand complex technical evidence and means used to obtain it. Prosecutors and defence lawyers must, likewise, be familiar with the technicalities of digital evidence, which requires constant multidisciplinary study. Often the divide between technological complexity and legal capacity means justice is delayed or denied, a vulnerability cybercriminals exploit with impunity.
The Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 more or less covers cyber offences like unauthorised access, data breaches, electronic fraud and forgery, and cyberterrorism. It also provides outlines the framework for digital evidence and the investigation procedure. However, implementation remains challenging. Law enforcement is still developing awareness and capacity to address crimes under PECA, even as they must stay updated on rapidly evolving threats. Meanwhile, dedicated cybercrime courts and specialised prosecution units remain in early stages of development.
Cyber law is rapidly evolving worldwide to address issues related to data privacy, protection, and cross-jurisdictional enforcement. A leading example is the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation, which has set a global benchmark with its stringent requirements on data handling and breach notifications. Pakistan's lawmakers and regulators can learn from such models to develop strong data protection frameworks that mandate encryption of sensitive information and require prompt disclosure of data breaches.
Academic institutions and educational programmes have a vital role to play as bridges between technology developers, legal experts and law enforcement agencies. Pakistani universities are increasingly offering degrees and diplomas in cyber-related fields, equipping professionals to tackle cyber threat from multiple perspectives. By integrating computer science, criminology and legal studies, scholars and educators are crafting interdisciplinary curricula that prepare a new generation of experts fluent in both technological systems and regulatory frameworks.
While demand for skilled cyber law professionals continues to grow, the current supply remains insufficient. To bridge this gap, universities and research institutions must expand their role by prioritizing applied research, interdisciplinary training, and partnerships with law enforcement. These collaborations should focus on hands-on training programmes, internships, and joint research initiatives tailored to Pakistan's specific cybercrime landscape.
International journals such as the Journal of Cybersecurity and Digital Forensics, along with policy guidance from the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), consistently stress the importance of integrated approaches. Such collaboration fosters synergy that enhances the consistency of cybercrime investigations, ensures the admissibility of forensic evidence in court, and contributes to the development of technologically informed, practically enforceable legal frameworks.
Moreover, cyber literacy efforts must extend beyond universities to schools, workplaces, and public awareness campaigns. A significant portion of Pakistani society remains vulnerable due to limited basic knowledge of cybersecurity. This gap is frequently exploited through social engineering tactics, phishing attacks, and misinformation campaigns. Cultivating a national culture of cybersecurity is essential for building digital resilience and safeguarding the broader digital ecosystem.
From a law enforcement perspective, Pakistan must invest in specialised cybercrime units equipped with advanced forensic tools, malware analysis software, blockchain investigation capabilities, and AI-driven threat detection systems. Continuous training programmes are essential to keep pace with evolving cyber threats and digital investigative techniques. Collaboration with international cybercrime task forces can facilitate knowledge exchange and improve operational effectiveness.
Equally important is capacity building within the judiciary to ensure the fair interpretation of often complex digital evidence. Establishing dedicated cyber courts with judges trained in cyber law and digital forensics would streamline case management and potentially improve conviction rates.
To support these efforts, stronger public-private partnerships are vital for reinforcing Pakistan's cyber defence ecosystem. Private companies and critical infrastructure providers are frequent targets of cyber incidents. Therefore, government-led initiatives should promote information sharing, conduct joint cybersecurity drills, and coordinate responses to cyberattacks. Such collaboration is key to building a resilient and secure digital environment.
International cooperation is another critical pillar of effective cyber governance. Cybercriminals often operate from foreign jurisdictions, making cross-border collaboration essential. Pakistan's active engagement in global frameworks — such as the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime — and the formation of bilateral cyber law enforcement agreements will enhance its ability to track, apprehend, and prosecute offenders across borders.
Technological safeguards must also be standardised and legally mandated. Core security practices — such as robust encryption, mandatory multi-factor authentication, continuous vulnerability assessments, and a secure software development lifecycle — should be non-negotiable. Data protection must be a legal obligation, especially for organizations in finance, healthcare, and government sectors. These entities must be held accountable for safeguarding user data and reporting breaches swiftly and transparently.
Emerging technologies bring both unprecedented threats and powerful opportunities. Cybercriminals are increasingly weaponising artificial intelligence to execute highly targeted attacks, perpetrate social engineering scams, and create convincing deepfakes for misinformation campaigns. At the same time, AI-driven cybersecurity tools can proactively detect anomalies in network traffic, identify zero-day vulnerabilities, and autonomously respond to threats.
To stay ahead of such risks, Pakistan's cybersecurity strategy must prioritise investment in AI and machine learning. These technologies can also enhance data security and privacy through innovations such as blockchain and decentralised identity management, reducing dependence on traditional passwords and mitigating the risk of credential leaks. The recent breach affecting 180 million Pakistani users is a stark reminder of the urgency for comprehensive reform.
Cybersecurity is not merely a technical issue — it is a societal challenge requiring multidisciplinary solutions, coordinated public policy, legal reform, and active public participation. Bridging the divides between technology, law enforcement, the judiciary, and academia is essential to building a resilient and secure digital future.
By constructing such an integrated ecosystem, Pakistan can protect citizen privacy, strengthen national security, foster digital economic growth, and uphold justice in the digital era. This future is within reach — but it demands vision, commitment, and sustained collaboration. The massive data leak is not just a crisis; it is a clarion call. Ignoring it would be perilous. Rising to meet it could position Pakistan as a regional leader in cyber resilience.
Ayaz Hussain Abbasi is a researcher and PhD scholar in the field cyber security and cybercrime
All facts and information are the sole responsibility of the writer