Pakistan has reportedly launched one of the largest and most sophisticated cyber offensives in the region’s history, crippling key elements of India’s digital infrastructure through a series of high-impact strikes.
The meticulously coordinated attack targeted a broad range of critical sectors, including energy, telecommunications, defense, and government portals, with the official BJP website among those affected.
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Sources within Pakistan’s cybersecurity apparatus revealed the following major breaches:
Energy Sector: Ten SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems within India’s energy infrastructure were compromised, disrupting control systems and threatening the stability of key power generation and distribution networks.
Web Infrastructure: The attack led to the destruction of 1,744 web servers, permanently wiping data from both public and private sector websites, causing irreparable damage to India’s digital framework.
Energy and Consumer Platforms: Wind turbines across several states were shut down, and multiple consumer electricity portals were rendered inaccessible, causing widespread disruptions to electricity distribution.
Transportation and Utilities: The cyber assault obliterated the entire ICT infrastructure of Indian Railways, along with critical services for the Delhi Gas Discom and Kashmir Electric Discom, leading to significant operational disruptions.
Telecommunications and Security: Over 120 routers and 1,310 IP cameras were defaced, with their configurations altered. The breach extended to various surveillance systems, compromising security at key installations.
Government and Corporate Websites: The operation defaced 13 government portals, including high-profile agencies like the Crime Research Investigation Agency (CRIAI) and Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), as well as 110 corporate websites, including Bharat Earth Movers Ltd (BEML) and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
Defense and Sensitive Data: Over 150 sensitive databases were stolen, including those of India’s Border Security Force (BSF) and Indian Air Force (IAF), and leaked onto various platforms. The Maharashtra Election Commission’s and Paytm’s databases were also compromised.
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Massive Surveillance Breach: The attack breached more than 2,500 surveillance cameras, rendering them inoperable. A watermark showcasing the operation’s impact was embedded on footage of the BrahMos missile storage site in Beas, Punjab, which showed extensive damage, raising concerns about India’s defense infrastructure security.
Media Disruption: The cyber strike also targeted three major Indian news channels, disrupting access to critical news and updates during a tense period.
Although the full extent of the damage is still being assessed, the scale of the destruction has prompted reactions from both governments. Indian officials have yet to comment in detail, but cybersecurity experts warn that the damage could take weeks, if not months, to fully repair. This cyber strike comes amidst rising geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan, both of which have accused each other of engaging in cyber warfare to undermine national security.