In the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, India's cyberspace has become a battleground for a sustained offensive by pro-Pakistan and Bangladeshi hacktivist groups. A report by Kochi-based cybersecurity firm Technisanct reveals that from April 22 to May 8, over 200 cyber incidents targeted Indian institutions, including BSNL, the Income Tax Department, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, state government portals, and Indian Railways.

The attacks comprised 55.5% distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks, 35.5% website defacements, and smaller percentages of data breaches and leaks. Notably, 52% of these incidents targeted government and public sector institutions, while 21.5% affected the education sector. Technisanct identified 36 pro-Pakistan hacktivist groups behind these attacks, with 'Nation of Saviors' leading with 34 incidents.

In response, 14 pro-India hacktivist groups launched counterattacks on Pakistani entities, including the Pakistan Air Force and the Ministry of Finance. Technisanct's CEO, Nandakishore Harikumar, emphasized the growing significance of cyber warfare, suggesting that in the future, a substantial portion of conflicts may be fought digitally.

This escalation underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive national cybersecurity strategy to protect critical infrastructure and counteract disinformation campaigns.

Source: News Agencies