Pakistan’s CERT Issues Cyber Alert as Regional Tensions Raise Threat Level
By Tanveer Ahmed :
Pakistan’s national cyber emergency authority has issued a fresh advisory warning of an increased risk of cyberattacks amid ongoing regional tensions.
The National Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) has directed sensitive institutions to adopt immediate protective measures, cautioning that government, defence and financial organisations could be prime targets.
Threat of Deepfakes and DDoS Attacks
In its advisory, CERT warned of potential deepfake disinformation campaigns, spear-phishing attempts and distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks aimed at disrupting digital infrastructure.
Officials said there is also a risk that verified social media accounts of public institutions could be compromised. Banking and financial systems may face ransomware threats, the advisory added.
Government employees and members of the public have been urged to remain vigilant, particularly when dealing with suspicious links, emails and mobile applications.
Mandatory Security Measures
CERT has made multi-factor authentication and immediate system updates mandatory for public sector institutions. Users have been instructed not to download unverified applications or click on unfamiliar links.
The advisory further warned of psychological operations carried out through manipulated videos, deepfake content and fabricated news reports designed to create panic or misinformation.
IT teams across departments have been directed to conduct immediate threat-hunting exercises and comprehensive security audits to mitigate potential risks.
Recent Incidents
The warning follows reports that two private television channels and one mobile application recently experienced cyber breaches. According to sources, the affected platforms were restored after swift technical intervention and are now operating normally.
Officials also claimed that, in response to the incidents, countermeasures were launched, with several Indian television channels and a number of Israeli websites reportedly targeted in retaliatory hacking attempts.
The advisory underscores growing concerns that cyberspace may become an increasingly active front amid escalating geopolitical tensions in the region.
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