Tech Desk 
Apr 28, 2025
Amid intensifying tensions between Pakistan and India, Pakistan’s National Computer Emergency Response Team (NCERT) has issued a high-alert advisory warning of an increased risk of cyberattacks.
NCERT warned that the unstable situation could be exploited by Indian government-backed hackers and cybercriminals, who may target crucial like government, defence, banks, key services, and the media.
Tactics used by the neighbouring nation's cyber criminals to disrupt services include spear-phishing, malware deployment, disinformation campaigns, and deepfake technology.
The NCERT advisory also warned of sophisticated Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) attacks that are designed to secretly gain access to networks undetected over long periods, which makes detection and response more difficult.
The cyberattacks might lead to data breaches, service disruptions, financial theft, and the spread of disinformation, which could destabilise public trust and political stability.
The national cybersecurity regulatory body urged immediate action, including enhancing authentication, patching software, securing communications, and conducting security audits.
The advisory also called on concerned authorities to implement zero-trust architecture and review their incident response plans to be well-protected from potential cyber threats.
