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Economic Times
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Economic Times
Pahalgam attack: Code of war - India and Pakistan take their battle to the (web)front
It's no longer just bullets and bombs—today, the battlefield stretches into cyberspace. Following the Pahalgam terror attack, tensions between India and Pakistan have sharply shifted into the digital realm, where hacker groups have launched a series of high-stakes cyberattacks. These digital offensives come alongside India's clearance of Dhruv helicopters for Army and Air Force use and a strong maritime posture by the Indian Navy, which has issued a firing alert in the northern Arabian Sea amid ongoing Pakistani naval drills. ADVERTISEMENT Pakistan-sponsored hacker groups have significantly increased their efforts to breach Indian military websites and databases, focusing particularly on sites linked to schools and veterans, ET reported. In the latest wave of attacks, websites like Army Public School Nagrota, Sunjuwan, and the Army Institute of Hotel Management were targeted, with defaced pages mocking the victims of the Pahalgam incident. Meanwhile, pro-India hacktivist group 'India Cyber Force' also claimed to have hacked Pakistani government and private sector databases of Euro Oil, AJK Supreme Court, University of Balochistan, Wada Call Agency and Sindh Police. On April 22, a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, left 26 tourists dead, with terrorists linked to Pakistan responsible. In swift retaliation, India took action on April 23, announcing the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, closing the Attari border in Punjab, and downgrading diplomatic ties with Pakistan. Pakistan retaliated by shutting its airspace to Indian flights, halting trade, and rejecting India's move on the water treaty, warning it would be seen as an "act of war."According to ET sources, at least two cyberattack groups, 'Cyber Group HOAX1337' and 'National Cyber Crew', have been actively targeting Indian military-linked sites, launching repeated attempts to infiltrate these high-security domains. "These attacks have focused on websites linked to children, veterans, and civilians," sources revealed, highlighting that the aim is to provoke India's military and test its restraint. These cyberattacks are just one piece of a broader strategy by Pakistan, which has long leveraged digital warfare alongside terrorism and information campaigns. The continued ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) suggest this persistent provocation. ADVERTISEMENT Also Read: How Pakistan is preparing for the worst as India weighs response In a particularly troubling development, a malicious PDF file, allegedly titled 'Report & Update Regarding Pahalgam Terror Attack', has been flagged by Indian cybersecurity experts. The document, linked to phishing domains that mimic official Indian government websites, is believed to be part of a larger scheme to compromise sensitive information. ADVERTISEMENT Experts predict that the cyberattacks will intensify, with Vishal Salvi, CEO of Quick Heal Technologies, highlighting a sharp escalation in Pakistan-backed cyber campaigns targeting Indian defence and critical infrastructure. His firm's recent investigations revealed that hacker group APT36 (also known as Transparent Tribe) has been deploying advanced malware like CrimsonRAT and MeshAgent through sophisticated phishing attacks. 'These cyber strikes coincide with rising DDoS surges and website defacements, all aimed at destabilizing public trust,' Salvi told ET earlier. Also Read: India eyes fund freeze for Pakistan after Pahalgam terror attack ADVERTISEMENT Sundareshwar Krishnamurthy, a partner at PwC India, noted that cyberattacks have moved beyond isolated disruptions. "Cyberattacks have become deliberate extensions of geopolitical strategy," he told ET earlier. "Every major flashpoint now triggers coordinated digital offensives aimed at undermining a country's critical infrastructure." The digital battlefield is evolving quickly, and both sides are adapting to evade detection and cause maximum escalation is not limited to government and military targets. Dhiraj Gupta, cofounder of mFilterIt, a fraud detection agency, revealed that social media bots and malicious ads have been increasingly used to shape narratives and spread chaos. mFilterIt reported a 10-15% rise in malicious ad placements on OTT platforms over the past week, with 70% of its clients affected by misleading ads. ADVERTISEMENT As India and Pakistan continue to experience heightened tensions along the Line of Control (LoC), the Indian Navy has issued a NavArea alert, warning ships to stay clear of a designated firing zone in the northern Arabian Sea. The alert, effective until May 3, comes amid Pakistan's naval drills in the region. The Indian Navy has marked the area, about 80-85 nautical miles from Pakistani training zones, as dangerous for navigation due to ongoing firing exercises, signaling India's readiness to assert its maritime presence. The Indian government has cleared the resumption of operations for the Army and Air Force versions of the Advanced Light Helicopter Dhruv after the entire fleet of over 330 helicopters was grounded in January. While the Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard variants are now cleared to fly, the naval version remains grounded.
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Code of war: India and Pakistan take their battle to the (web)front
Live Events India vs Pakistan on the cyber front (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel It's no longer just bullets and bombs—now the battlefield stretches into cyberspace. Ever since the Pahalgam terror attack , tensions between India and Pakistan have taken a sharp turn into the digital world, with hacker groups from launching a series of high-stakes cyberattacks. From defacing military websites to spreading phishing malware, these digital skirmishes are far from being just geeky backdoor tactics. Instead, they're a fierce extension of geopolitical strategy—testing each other's limits. Let's dive into the latest digital warfare unfolding between these two hacker groups are intensifying their efforts to breach Indian military websites and databases, with a particular focus on sites linked to schools and veterans. In the latest wave of attacks, websites such as Army Public School Nagrota, Sunjuwan, and the Army Institute of Hotel Management were targeted, with several defaced pages mocking the victims of the Pahalgam sources have reported that at least two cyberattack groups, 'Cyber Group HOAX1337' and 'National Cyber Crew', have been active this week , launching repeated attempts to infiltrate Indian military-linked sites. 'There have been consistent attacks aimed at websites connected to children, veterans, and civilians,' sources said, stressing that these are calculated provocations designed to test India's restraint and provoke the armed cyberattacks, they note, are part of a broader pattern of digital warfare by Pakistan, which has long used such tactics as an extension of its larger strategy of terrorism and information warfare. The continued ceasefire violations along the Line of Control (LoC) mirror this ongoing a particularly troubling development, a malicious PDF file, allegedly titled 'Report & Update Regarding Pahalgam Terror Attack', has been flagged by Indian cybersecurity experts. The document, linked to phishing domains that mimic official Indian government websites, is believed to be part of a larger scheme to compromise sensitive predict that the cyberattacks will intensify, with Vishal Salvi, CEO of Quick Heal Technologies , highlighting a sharp escalation in Pakistan-backed cyber campaigns targeting Indian defence and critical infrastructure. His firm's recent investigations revealed that hacker group APT36 (also known as Transparent Tribe) has been deploying advanced malware like CrimsonRAT and MeshAgent through sophisticated phishing attacks. 'These cyber strikes coincide with rising DDoS surges and website defacements, all aimed at destabilizing public trust,' Salvi told ET Krishnamurthy, a partner at PwC India, noted that cyberattacks have moved beyond isolated disruptions. "Cyberattacks have become deliberate extensions of geopolitical strategy," he told ET earlier. "Every major flashpoint now triggers coordinated digital offensives aimed at undermining a country's critical infrastructure." The digital battlefield is evolving quickly, and both sides are adapting to evade detection and cause maximum escalation is not limited to government and military targets. Dhiraj Gupta, cofounder of mFilterIt, a fraud detection agency, revealed that social media bots and malicious ads have been increasingly used to shape narratives and spread chaos. mFilterIt reported a 10-15% rise in malicious ad placements on OTT platforms over the past week, with 70% of its clients affected by misleading ads.
Time of India
01-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Researchers warn internet users, Pakistani hackers targeting your PCs, laptops and mobile: What to know
Cybersecurity researchers are issuing urgent warnings to internet users in India about a surge in hacking attempts originating from Pakistan, targeting personal computers, laptops, and mobile devices. This escalation in cyber activity appears to be linked to heightened geopolitical tensions between the two nations. According to a report by Economic Times, Pakistani hackers are sending malicious PDF files which are linked to phishing domains . The report also adds that the Indian officials have confirmed that they have thwarted multiple cyberattacks from Pakistan in the last few days. According to cybersecurity experts, this digital aggression follows a pattern of tit-for-tat cyberattacks between suspected pro-India and Pakistan-based hacking groups. Recent claims include an Indian hacktivist group, 'India Cyber Force,' reportedly breaching Pakistani government and private sector databases. In response, a Pakistan-based group, ' Team Insane PK ,' allegedly targeted the Indian Army College of Nursing website with provocative messaging. How Pakistani hackers are targeting your PCs, laptops and smartphones As reported by Economic Times, the hackers are sending malicious PDF documents titled Report & Update Regarding Pahalgam Terror Attack. The document is said to mimic official Indian government website but it is linked to malicious phishing domains. Users who download and open this file risk their devices being compromised. Experts highlight that these attacks are not isolated incidents but rather part of a broader cyber conflict. Vishal Salvi, CEO of cybersecurity solutions firm Quick Heal Technologies, stated there has been a "sharp escalation in Pakistan-backed cyber campaigns targeting Indian defence, government, and critical infrastructure sectors." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Pressure Transducers for Simple Solutions Pressure Transducer Read More Undo Quick Heal's analysis has identified the hacker group APT36 (Transparent Tribe) as actively deploying CrimsonRAT malware through sophisticated phishing attacks, often in conjunction with a remote monitoring and management (RMM) tool known as MeshAgent. These attacks are strategically timed to coincide with hacktivist-driven DDoS attacks and website defacements aimed at undermining public trust. Furthermore, another sub-group of APT36, known as SideCopy, is reportedly broadening its targets to include sectors like railways and oil, utilizing new malware payloads such as CurlBack RAT. These groups are continuously adapting their tactics to evade detection by security software. Experts emphasise that cyberattacks have evolved beyond mere disruptive acts and are now being employed as deliberate extensions of geopolitical strategy. "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 Economic Times. What users need to keep in mind to stay safe from cyberattacks Be extremely cautious of unsolicited emails and messages, especially those with attachments or links related to sensitive topics like security or current events. Verify the authenticity of any PDF files or documents before downloading or opening them, especially if they appear suspicious or are received from unknown sources. Double-check the URLs of websites before entering any sensitive information, ensuring they are legitimate and not mimicking official sites. Keep your operating systems, antivirus software, and other security applications up to date. Be wary of clicking on suspicious advertisements, particularly those with provocative or nationalistic imagery. Exercise caution while browsing online, especially on less reputable websites. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Time of India
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
India, Pakistan hackers trade codes & command in digital firefight
Increasing tensions between India and Pakistan since the Pahalgam terror attack have extended into cyberspace with groups engaging in hacking and cyberattacks. #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack A Chinese shadow falls on Pahalgam terror attack case probe How India can use water to pressure Pakistan Buzzkill: How India can dissolve the Pakistan problem, not just swat it Experts expect further spike in these activities as cyberattacks have become "extensions of geopolitical strategy." Last week, pro-India hacktivist group ' India Cyber Force ' claimed to have hacked Pakistani government and private sector databases of Euro Oil, AJK Supreme Court, University of Balochistan, Wada Call Agency and Sindh Police. Earlier, Pakistan-based group ' Team Insane PK ' had hacked the Indian Army College of Nursing website and left a provocative message emphasising religious differences and the two-nation theory, echoing recent remarks by Pakistani army chief Asim Munir. ETtech Live Events Meanwhile, cybersecurity experts in India have flagged a malicious PDF file titled 'Report & Update Regarding Pahalgam Terror circulating online. The document is linked to phishing domains, including indiadefencedepartment[.]link, which mimics official Indian government websites. Discover the stories of your interest Blockchain 5 Stories Cyber-safety 7 Stories Fintech 9 Stories E-comm 9 Stories ML 8 Stories Edtech 6 Stories Indian officials said they have thwarted multiple attacks from Pakistan over the last few days. "There has been a sharp escalation in Pakistan-backed cyber campaigns targeting Indian defence, government, and critical infrastructure sectors," said Vishal Salvi, CEO of cybersecurity solutions firm Quick Heal Technologies . Quick Heal's team has identified hacker group APT36 (Transparent Tribe) deploying CrimsonRAT malware through sophisticated phishing attacks along with an RMM tool known as MeshAgent, he said. "These attacks coincide with hacktivist-driven DDoS surges and website defacements aimed at destabilising public trust," Salvi said. "We have also observed SideCopy, a sub-group of APT36, broadening its focus to sectors like railways and oil, using novel payloads like CurlBack RAT... They are continuously evolving their tactics to evade detection." Cyber experts have also reported 10%-15% growth 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," said Sundareshwar Krishnamurthy, partner and leader - cybersecurity at PwC India. "Every major flashpoint now triggers coordinated digital offensives aimed at undermining a country's critical infrastructure," he said. Such intrusions weaponise cyberspace to erode public trust when the stakes are highest, Krishnamurthy said.
