Pakistan's cyber watchdog issues a nationwide alert over rising cyber threats and misinformation as political tensions with India escalate.
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| With tensions flaring between India and Pakistan, NCERT warns of digital attacks exploiting public fear through disinformation and malicious links. Symbolic Image |
Islamabad, Pakistan – May 8, 2025:
As geopolitical tensions with India intensify, Pakistan’s National Cyber Emergency Response Team (NCERT) has issued a high-priority cyber advisory warning of a surge in sophisticated digital threats. The advisory, reported by Geo TV, highlights an uptick in phishing attacks, malware campaigns, and disinformation efforts designed to exploit public uncertainty and destabilize critical digital systems.
According to NCERT, adversarial entities are leveraging the current climate to launch cyber operations aimed at both state and civilian targets. These operations include the distribution of false alerts, fake news stories, and deceptive messages on social media and encrypted messaging platforms. Many of these are crafted to appear as legitimate communications from official sources, sowing confusion and panic among the population.
The advisory notes that these cyber threats are not limited to government networks but have extended to corporate infrastructures and personal digital devices. Attackers are employing advanced tactics such as homograph attacks, where web addresses are manipulated to resemble trusted domains, as well as malicious QR codes that redirect users to infected websites. These techniques are being used to spread malware and extract sensitive data without detection.
NCERT stresses the importance of public vigilance, advising citizens to exercise extreme caution when dealing with unverified emails, messages, and online content. The advisory urges people to avoid clicking on suspicious links or sharing unverified information, especially on platforms like WhatsApp. It recommends relying exclusively on verified government sources for any updates related to the situation.
The agency also underlined the importance of maintaining up-to-date antivirus protections, activating multi-factor authentication, and closely monitoring network activity for any irregularities. It emphasized that misinformation, if left unchecked, can erode public trust and amplify the impact of cyberattacks.
NCERT reassured the public that Pakistan has rapid-response capabilities in place to detect and counteract these digital threats. However, it stressed that collective responsibility and informed behavior are essential in minimizing the impact of such campaigns. The advisory concludes with a strong message encouraging unity and vigilance: “Together, we can prevent the spread of misinformation and defend our digital frontlines.”