Pakistan’s National Computer Emergency Response Team (NCERT) has issued an advisory due to the fear of cyberattacks, given the tension in the region.
The advisory stated that hackers can take advantage of the tension in South Asia and Central Asia, and government institutions and sensitive infrastructure can be targets of cyber attacks.
The advisory stated that the defense, financial, and media sectors in Pakistan may be victims of cyber attacks, and there is a fear of using methods like spear phishing, malware, and deepfakes.
Attackers may try to steal the confidentiality and information of institutions, and strategic infrastructure services in Pakistan may be disrupted. Cyber threats have increased in financial institutions and the banking system. The National Security Agency has directed government institutions to immediately strengthen cyber security.
The advisory stated that cyber attacks can cause political instability and damage public trust; institutions should immediately conduct a security audit of their systems.
