Islamabad
Pakistan is not only infiltrating India through land or sky, but those with evil intentions in neighboring Muktsa have adopted a new tactic for this. Yes, cyber attacks from Pakistan on India’s defense system have increased rapidly in recent years. There has been a 39 percent increase in these attacks during the last year, in which government agencies, defense and aerospace sectors were mainly targeted. In May 2024, Pakistan-based advanced cyber threat group ‘Transparent Tribe’ (APT36) carried out large-scale cyber attacks on the Indian government, defense and aerospace sectors, which were part of a conspiracy to weaken India’s security system.
Pakistan’s new tactic of infiltration
Pakistan is now targeting India’s government network and defense system using new cyber methods. The most prominent technique among these is spear phishing, in which specific individuals are targeted and sent fake emails or malware. This makes them accidentally reveal sensitive information. The same technique was used in the cyber attack on the Indian Air Force in January 2024, when some Air Force personnel were targeted through spear phishing emails. Earlier in March 2024, unknown cyber criminals infiltrated several Indian government institutions. These included agencies related to electronic communications, IT governance and national security. All these attacks were similar, which indicates that Pakistan-backed groups are constantly taking advantage of India’s cyber security vulnerabilities.
Impact of these attacks on the defense sector
These cyber attacks are posing serious threats to India’s security. Especially the breaches in the defense sector can have a negative impact on the security of command and control systems, weapons information and defense equipment. These attacks can pose a serious challenge to India’s national security. Therefore, it has become very important for India to strengthen its cyber security system. According to a report by Firstpost, operational technology (OT) plays an important role in India’s defense system. This technology controls the equipment and processes of defense organizations. OT systems include robots and support equipment, which help maintain continuity in military work. If these OT systems become insecure, it can not only cause disruption in defense equipment but can also have a profound impact on security.
Current challenges of cyber security
In today’s era, cyber attacks are not just a technical issue, but they have become a direct attack on the sovereignty of a nation. The use of spear phishing in the attack on the Indian Air Force has made it clear that these attacks are becoming more complex. According to an IBM report, the biggest economic loss from cyber attacks in India was caused by spear phishing and phishing attacks, which reached US $ 2.28 million.
how will the solution come out
This problem can be solved only when all government and defense organizations focus on cyber security awareness programs. Through these programs, users should be informed about safe email usage so that they can identify phishing emails. Apart from this, it is also important to always keep browsers and applications updated and avoid suspicious extensions. Old techniques are no longer enough to deal with cyber attacks. Now the time has come for India to use AI (Artificial Intelligence) technology, which can reduce the threats related to web browsers and email systems. Regular scanning is no longer enough, so there is a need for security systems that can constantly monitor and detect blindspots in security.
