15 Lakh Cyber Attacks: Pak Hackers Active After Pahalgam

After the Pahalgam attack, tensions rose between India and Pakistan. During this time, hacker groups launched over 1.5 million cyber attacks, mainly from Pakistan and other countries.

Pahalgam Terror Attack Triggers Massive Cyber Attack: India Detects 1.5 Million Cyber Attacks by 7 Foreign Hacker Groups

New Delhi: India’s cybersecurity agencies have uncovered a major wave of cyber threats following the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam. Officials have confirmed that over 1.5 million cyber attacks have been attempted against Indian digital infrastructure. These attempts have been traced back to at least seven highly active hacker groups identified as Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) groups. The groups, believed to be backed by hostile foreign entities, became significantly more aggressive after the Pahalgam incident.

The cyber attackers primarily targeted crucial government portals, military-linked systems, and infrastructure sectors such as transport, energy, and communication networks. According to senior officials monitoring national cybersecurity, these attacks aimed to destabilize India’s digital backbone during a period of heightened tension with Pakistan.

The investigation further revealed that several of these hacker groups are either directly linked to Pakistani intelligence or operate under their support. The attackers were not only focusing on high-profile systems but were also trying to infiltrate personal devices of key individuals including defense personnel, government employees, and journalists. Their aim appears to be data theft, disruption, and psychological warfare.

Authorities have identified that sophisticated malware tools were used in these attacks. Two prominent ones were named “Dance of Hillary” and “Calls from Military.” These malware programs were disguised as legitimate communication but were actually intended to inject harmful software into mobile phones and computers. Once infected, these devices could be remotely accessed, and data could be stolen or manipulated without the user’s knowledge.

Interestingly, out of the staggering 1.5 million attempts, only around 150 attacks were partially successful, showing that India’s defense mechanisms were largely effective. These few successful breaches did, however, raise concerns, especially because they targeted sensitive systems. Officials emphasized that no critical national infrastructure was compromised.

The sources of these cyber attacks have been traced to several countries, primarily Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Morocco, and some nations in the Middle East. This points to a coordinated cyber campaign rather than isolated incidents. The attackers used various strategies, including Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks. These involve flooding a website with massive traffic from multiple sources, leading to server crashes. Additionally, GPS spoofing techniques were used to mislead the system’s location services, potentially redirecting critical logistics or emergency responses.

Indian cybersecurity agencies acted swiftly in response. They began round-the-clock surveillance and implemented additional security patches across government servers. Cyber defense teams worked with Internet service providers to detect the origin of malicious traffic and block suspicious IP addresses. Emergency protocols were also activated to alert public sector organizations and infrastructure providers.

Furthermore, officials disclosed that some Indian websites were defaced — a common hacker tactic where attackers replace the website content with propaganda or false information. These actions were quickly reversed, and affected sites were restored with enhanced protection layers. Experts believe the goal behind such actions was not just to disrupt but to send psychological messages and instill fear among citizens and institutions.

To counter such evolving threats, Indian agencies are enhancing their cyber capabilities. The government is considering strategic collaborations with global cybersecurity firms and increasing investment in cyber defense training. Plans are underway to establish a national cyber command center with real-time threat intelligence and response units.

Officials have also issued public advisories urging citizens and professionals in sensitive roles to remain cautious. Users have been asked to avoid opening unknown emails, downloading unfamiliar files, or clicking on suspicious links. Awareness campaigns are also being planned to educate people about common cyber risks and safe internet practices.

The Pahalgam-related cyber offensive has made it clear that the threat landscape for India is not just physical anymore but extends deeply into cyberspace. The government remains committed to defending its digital frontiers, and continuous upgrades in infrastructure and policy are in progress.

As the nature of warfare evolves, the importance of cybersecurity in national defense cannot be overstated. India’s proactive detection and defense in this incident demonstrate resilience, but the road ahead calls for constant vigilance and technological preparedness.

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Aditya

Aditya is a dedicated writer at InsightIndia.in, covering the latest news from across India with a focus on results and public updates. With a strong eye for accuracy and clarity, he brings timely information to readers, helping them stay informed about key developments and outcomes that matter.