Indian Hackers Target Pakistan’s Defence, Finance Ministries

ISLAMABAD

Pakistan’s key government institutions, including the ministries of defence and finance, have come under a potential cyberattack threat, prompting authorities to issue a high-priority alert.

Officials said a sophisticated phishing campaign is being carried out by a suspected foreign hacking group, targeting government employees to gain access to sensitive information and official systems.

According to the advisory, attackers are using fake websites, malicious links, and spoofed domains impersonating trusted institutions to deceive officials into sharing login credentials. Fraudulent websites mimicking major government bodies have also been identified.

Authorities warned that the campaign could lead to serious security breaches, including compromised credentials, malware installation, and infiltration of critical infrastructure if not contained in time.

Government departments have been directed to immediately block suspicious domains, strengthen firewall protections, and enforce multi-factor authentication across sensitive systems. Advanced monitoring tools have also been recommended to detect and respond to cyber threats in real time.

Officials have urged employees to remain vigilant, avoid clicking on suspicious emails or attachments, and change passwords immediately if any unusual activity is detected.

The development highlights growing cybersecurity risks, as state institutions face increasingly sophisticated digital threats targeting critical data and infrastructure.