WEB DESK: Pakistan’s national cyber response authority has issued a high-alert advisory, warning of heightened risks of digital attacks amid ongoing regional tensions.
The National Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) directed critical institutions to immediately strengthen their cyber defences, cautioning that government bodies, defence installations and financial organisations could be prime targets.
Threat landscape expanding
According to the advisory, potential threats include spear-phishing campaigns, distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks and ransomware strikes on banking systems. Officials also warned about the growing risk of deepfake content and fabricated news designed to spread misinformation and conduct psychological operations.
CERT noted that official social media accounts could be vulnerable to compromise and urged both public servants and citizens to avoid clicking on suspicious links or installing unverified mobile applications.
Mandatory security measures
The advisory makes multi-factor authentication compulsory across sensitive platforms and calls for immediate software updates and patch management. IT departments have been instructed to conduct urgent threat-hunting exercises and carry out comprehensive security audits to identify vulnerabilities.
Public sector employees have been specifically advised against downloading unauthorised apps and to remain vigilant against phishing attempts disguised as official communication.
Recent breaches reported
The warning comes after two private television channels and one mobile application reportedly experienced security breaches. Technical teams restored the affected platforms shortly after intervention, and services are now operating normally.
Sources also indicated that retaliatory cyber activity targeted several Indian television channels and a number of Israeli websites, reflecting the broader digital dimension of escalating regional tensions.
Authorities say monitoring efforts have been intensified to prevent further incidents and safeguard critical digital infrastructure.
