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First Post
01-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
After Pahalgam terror attack, how Pakistan is waging a cyberwar against India
Days after the Pahalgam terror attack, India has witnessed several attempts at cyberattacks — websites have been defaced and information has been tried to be harvested. These incidents have been carried out by Pakistan-based hackers. Security experts note that these hacks are a part of Islamabad's psychological warfare against New Delhi read more Wars are not fought only on the battlefield — modern wars are fought online. Heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam attack on April 22 have bled into cyberspace with hackers engaging in cyberattacks. Notably, the cyberattacks coincide with Pakistan's continuous firing along the Line of Control (LoC) — for seven consecutive days, Islamabad has opened fire along the LoC near Kupwara, Uri, and Akhnoor in Jammu and Kashmir. Experts have warned that such incidents — of hackers defacing webpages and harvesting information — will spike in the days to come, stating that cyberattacks have become 'extensions of geopolitical strategy'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD As these hacking incidents continue, we take a closer look at who's responsible. What's been targeted so far in the cyberattacks? On April 25, three days after the Pahalgam terror attack, news came in that the website of India's Army College of Nursing had been hacked. The hackers left an inflammatory message on the Army College of Nursing's website. The message, written in English and Urdu, read: 'Our religion, customs are miles apart and that makes us stronger… The two-nation theory was not just an idea but it's the truth… We are Muslims, you are Hindus… Allah is with us… Your religion won't save you, but it will be the cause of your death… We are just too superior and powerful.' A view of the hacked homepage of the Army College of Nursing. The reference to the two-theory nation echoed recent remarks by Pakistani army chief Asim Munir, which is believed to have acted as a catalyst for the Pahalgam terror attack. In his speech, he stated that India and Pakistan are fundamentally different nations. Days later, the websites of Army Public School Srinagar and Army Public School Ranikhet were hacked, with the homepages of both sites displaying propaganda-laced content. In Srinagar's case, a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack was also launched, temporarily taking the website offline. 'They managed to deface the homepage, and cause DDoS disruptions, but the web managers were able to quickly rectify the issue,' an Army source was quoted as saying. Additionally, there was also an attempted breach of the Army Welfare Housing Organisation (AWHO) database along with efforts to compromise the Indian Air Force Placement Organisation portal. On Tuesday (April 29), the website of the Rajasthan education department was also hacked with a message pasted on the homepage mocking the Indian adminstration over the 2019 capture of Air Force officer Abhinandan Varthaman by Pakistan. The hackers also posted objectionable content regarding the Pahalgam attack. The message read, 'Pahalgam was no attack — it was an inside job… You lit the fire, now brace for the meltdown.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The message further stated: 'No borders. No warnings. No mercy… The next hit won't be bullets — it'll be bytes…' That's not all. Cybersecurity experts have also warned of a malicious PDF file titled 'Report & Update Regarding Pahalgam Terror circulating online. The document, according to Economic Times, is linked to phishing domains, including indiadefencedepartment[.]link, which mimics official Indian government websites. Quick Heal's team has also identified pro-Pakistani hacker group APT36 (Transparent Tribe) deploying CrimsonRAT malware through sophisticated phishing attacks along with an RMM tool known as MeshAgent. In fact, cyber experts have reported a 10-15 per centgrowth in malicious ad placements with Pakistani flags on OTT websites. 'Cyberattacks are no longer fringe acts of disruption… They have become deliberate extensions of geopolitical strategy,' Sundareshwar Krishnamurthy, partner and leader - cybersecurity at PwC India, told the Economic Times. Who's responsible for these cyberattack? Multiple hacking groups have been found responsible for the recent cyberattacks been perpetrated in India. For instance, the hacking group, 'Team Insane PK', claimed responsibility for the defacement of the Indian Army College of Nursing website. This group is believed to have been behind distributed denial of service (DDoS) and other types of cyberattacks on Indian government and other websites, including those of companies and educational institutes. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD They had also targeted Indian government websites ahead of the 2023 G20 summit in India. In fact, a report by Cloudsek's threat research team found that 'Insane Pk' carried out approximately 2,450 targeted cyberattacks under '#OpIndia' days before the G20 summit. Last year, they became notoriously famous when they hacked the website of renowned fast-food chain, Burger Singh. Team Insane PK not only penetrated Burger Singh's digital defences but also took the opportunity to showcase their mischievous prowess by redesigning the website. Besides Team Insane PK, the cyber attacks have also been reportedly perpetrated by a group that operates under the moniker, 'IOK Hacker or the 'Internet of Khilafah'. What's behind the cyberattacks? Indian intelligence agencies have noted that the cyberattacks have been retaliatory and symbolic after the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people were killed. An official familiar with the matter, was even quoted as saying, 'These were public-facing platforms. When national defense networks proved impenetrable, they targeted softer, more visible sites.' However, experts have noted that these hacking incidents carry a high value. That's because these attacks are part of a broader playbook to sow distrust, create panic, and amplify conflict narratives via social media and digital forums. An Indian paramilitary trooper stands guard as commuters walk along a street in Srinagar. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the military 'operational freedom' to respond to a deadly attack in Kashmir that New Delhi has blamed on arch-rival Pakistan. AFP Authorities note that it's a psychological warfare tactic being used by Pakistan, which is attempting to destabilise Indian institutions. Investigations are underway, and steps are being taken to trace the origin and network of the hacker group. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Experts note that hacking incidents have become a tactic often used by Pakistan against India. For instance, a group known as Transparent Tribe (APT36) has routinely targeted Indian websites, namely military and educational websites. In 2024, a report by cybersecurity firm BlackBerry found that a Pakistan-based group (believed to be Transparent Tribe) launched espionage campaigns against Indian defence and aerospace organisations. Security firm Seqrite (the enterprise arm of Quick Heal) similarly documented that Transparent Tribe 'originated in Pakistan' and 'has been targeting Indian government and military entities' for the last decade. But even as these hacking attacks have resulted in no loss of classified information, they do serve a lesson. It reinforces the value of a multi-layered cybersecurity architecture. It's now only a wait-and-watch game to see what Pakistan resorts to next. With inputs from agencies
News18
26-04-2025
- News18
Pahalgam Attack: Cybersecurity Alert Issued To Secure Digital Assets After Pakistan-Based Hackers Strike
Last Updated: On Friday, Pakistan-based hackers Team Insane PK defaced the homepage of the Army College of Nursing with images related to the recent Pahalgam massacre and of militant Burhan Wani A Pakistan-based hacker group has targeted the Army College of Nursing after an attempt to breach the G20 website, prompting the Indian government to issue a cybersecurity alert. All government ministries, departments, and agencies have been directed to strengthen their cyber defences to prevent further breaches. Sources indicate that the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) has compiled an internal report in the wake of the latest cyberattack, which came shortly after the terror attack in Pahalgam. The agency suspects that more cyberattacks—particularly on critical infrastructure—may be imminent, potentially as part of a broader cyber warfare strategy. An alert reviewed by News18 advises all departments to urgently enhance their cybersecurity protocols. They have been instructed to follow Cyber Hygiene Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) and implement robust protective measures to prevent unauthorised access and data breaches. On Friday, the Pakistan-based hacker group Team Insane PK defaced the homepage of the Army College of Nursing. The homepage displayed the message 'You are hacked!" along with images related to the recent Pahalgam massacre and of militant Burhan Wani. Authorities are treating this not only as a cybercrime but also as a psychological warfare tactic aimed at destabilising Indian institutions. Investigations are underway, and steps are being taken to trace the origin and network of the hacker group. First Published: April 26, 2025, 10:24 IST
NDTV
25-04-2025
- NDTV
Army Nursing College Website Hacked Days After Pahalgam Terror Attack
Days after the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam, the website of the Army College of Nursing has been hacked, allegedly by a Pakistan-based hacker group called Team Insane PK.
