Cabinet Division warns of Indian-linked cyberattack threat

ISLAMABAD: The Cabinet Division has issued an alert to all its departments about a potential cyberattack campaign allegedly linked to Indian threat actors.

The alert highlights a targeted phishing campaign targeting Pakistani government officials.

According to the advisory, the cyber threat is believed to have originated from Sidewinder, a group widely known in cybersecurity circles and suspected of having ties to the Indian state. Sidewinder has been active in the region for years and is notorious for using sophisticated phishing techniques to breach secure networks.

In this latest campaign, attackers are using deceptive emails that appear to come from the cybersecurity directorate of sensitive agencies. These emails are designed to trick recipients into opening malicious links or sharing confidential information, a tactic commonly known as social engineering.

Officials said the emails are part of a broader effort to compromise Pakistan’s digital infrastructure. In response, the government has stepped up training and awareness efforts, instructing employees to remain alert and report any suspicious activity immediately.

The advisory emphasized that various institutions have already been trained to defend against phishing and other forms of cyber intrusion. It urged all departments to enhance their cybersecurity protocols to prevent data breaches.