Indian cybersecurity agencies successfully foiled a series of cyber attacks launched by Pakistan-based hacker groups targeting Army schools, welfare websites, and other non-combatant platforms. The attempted breaches aimed to deface websites with inflammatory content mocking victims of the recent Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 people lost their lives.
The hacker groups, identified as “Cyber Group HOAX1337” and “National Cyber Crew,” targeted websites such as Army Public School (APS) Nagrota and Sunjuwan, as well as a healthcare website serving ex-servicemen. These attacks were seen as deliberate attempts to target vulnerable segments of society, reflecting Pakistan’s growing frustration and unethical cyber practices.
Intelligence agencies confirmed four related incidents, including propaganda attacks on APS Srinagar and APS Ranikhet, as well as efforts to breach the Army Welfare Housing Organisation (AWHO) database and the Indian Air Force Placement Organisation portal. Despite the attempts, authorities were able to swiftly detect and neutralize the threats, ensuring that no operational or classified information was compromised.
In response to the cyber provocations, tensions along the Line of Control (LoC) escalated, with the Pakistan Army engaging in unprovoked small arms firing for the eighth consecutive day into early May. Indian Army positions in various sectors in Jammu and Kashmir were targeted, prompting a calibrated and proportionate response from Indian troops.
The Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, in which heavily armed terrorists targeted tourists on the Baisaran grassland, resulted in the tragic loss of 26 lives, with 25 of the victims being tourists. The recent cyber attacks on Indian websites serve as a reminder of the ongoing security challenges faced by the country, both on the ground and in cyberspace.
