Pakistan Launches Massive Cyber Attack on India, Major Websites Hacked

Pakistan Launches Massive Cyber Attack on India’s Critical Infrastructure

In what is being described as one of the most sophisticated cyber offensives in the region’s history, Pakistan has reportedly launched a devastating cyber attack that crippled vital elements of India’s digital infrastructure.

The cyber strike, believed to be meticulously coordinated, targeted critical sectors ranging from energy, telecommunications, and defense, to government portals, including the official website of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Read More: https://theneutral.pk/paf-launches-cyber-attacks-targeting-indian-air-force-networks/

Key Targets of the Cyber Attack:

1. Energy Sector: Pakistan’s cyber units successfully breached ten SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems within India’s energy sector, disrupting control systems and posing a threat to the stability of major power generation and distribution networks.
2. Web Infrastructure: A major blow to India’s digital backbone, with 1,744 web servers completely destroyed. The data stored on these servers was permanently wiped, inflicting irreparable damage to both public and private sector infrastructure.
3. Energy and Consumer Platforms: Cyber attackers shut down wind turbines across various states and rendered numerous consumer electricity portals inaccessible, severely disrupting electricity distribution across India.
4. Transportation and Utilities: India’s Railways ICT infrastructure was obliterated, alongside critical services for Delhi Gas Discom and Kashmir Electric Discom. This disruption led to complete data erasure, halting daily operations for millions.
5. Telecommunications and Security: The attack targeted 120 routers and 1,310 IP cameras, altering their configurations. Surveillance systems at key installations were also compromised, undermining security.
6. Government and Corporate Websites: Thirteen high-profile government portals were defaced, including those belonging to agencies like the Crime Research Investigation Agency (CRIAI) and the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). Additionally, 110 corporate websites were taken offline, including major companies like Bharat Earth Movers Ltd (BEML) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
7. Defense and Sensitive Data: The attack saw the theft of over 150 databases containing highly sensitive information, including details from India’s Border Security Force (BSF) and Indian Air Force (IAF). The database of the Maharashtra Election Commission and Paytm were also compromised.
8. Massive Surveillance Breach: One of the most alarming parts of the attack was the breach of 2,500+ surveillance cameras across India, rendering them inoperable. A watermark from the cyber operation appeared on a video showing significant damage to the BrahMos missile storage site in Beas, Punjab, raising concerns about the security of India’s defense infrastructure.
9. Media Disruption: Three major Indian news channels were defaced, leaving viewers without access to critical updates during a highly tense period.

Aftermath and Reactions:

While the full impact of the cyber offensive is still being evaluated, the sheer scale of the destruction has drawn attention from both governments. Indian officials have not yet provided a detailed response, but cybersecurity experts have warned that repairs could take weeks or even months.

This cyber attack comes amid rising geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan, both of which have accused each other of engaging in cyber warfare to undermine national security.