ISLAMABAD

Pakistan’s National Cyber Emergency Response Team Pakistan has issued a high-level cybersecurity advisory warning of potential hostile cyberattacks targeting government websites and digital platforms.

The advisory directs all government websites to be temporarily shifted to “read-only” mode in an effort to prevent unauthorized modifications, defacement attempts, and the spread of propaganda through compromised digital systems.

Officials said the move is aimed at safeguarding critical digital infrastructure and protecting government platforms from malicious intrusions and misinformation campaigns during a period of heightened cyber risk.

According to the advisory, attackers could exploit website contact forms, search bars, and file upload features to gain unauthorized access to sensitive citizen data or establish long-term control through web shells and backend vulnerabilities.

The National CERT also warned that hackers may launch Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks using complex backend queries, potentially disrupting key public services and undermining public trust in state institutions.

Threat actors identified in the advisory include state-sponsored Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) groups as well as ideologically motivated hacktivist networks.

Authorities cautioned that such attacks could be aimed not only at stealing information but also at publicly defacing government websites to create panic and damage institutional credibility.

Government departments have been instructed to immediately restrict website modification requests, disable unnecessary forms and login systems, strengthen database security, and review server logs for suspicious activity.

The advisory emphasizes urgent action to reinforce cybersecurity defenses as digital threats against public-sector infrastructure continue to evolve globally.