Pak-based hacker group claims cyberattack on Indian defence institutions

New Delhi: In a serious cybersecurity breach, media reports claim that Indian defence institutions, including the Military Engineering Services (MES) and the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (MP-IDSA), have been targeted by a cyberattack allegedly carried out by the Pakistan Cyber Force.

However, the senior management of Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses categorically denied reports that its website has been hacked.

According to a post circulating online, the group is suspected of compromising sensitive data, including login credentials and personal information of defence personnel. The same post also claims that the attackers attempted to deface the official website of Armoured Vehicle Nigam Limited (AVNL), a public sector defence enterprise under the Ministry of Defence.

While there has been no official confirmation from Indian authorities, the allegations have raised fresh concerns over cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the defence sector. 

Cyberattacks targeting several Indian websites, especially of academic institutions, have been reported in recent days, particularly after the April 22 Pahalgam attack.

At least four Army Public Schools (APS), including APS Nagrota and APS Sunjuwan, were targeted by hackers, PTI reported quoting a soruce.

The websites of APS Nagrota and APS Sunjuwan, located in Jammu and Kashmir, were down on Monday evening.

The website of a PSU under the Defence Ministry was also down. However, there is no official word on the reason for it being down.

Tension between India and Pakistan are on the rise following the Pahalgam attack.

On April 25, the Army College of Nursing website was hacked and defaced with graphic visuals.

The website was still down on Monday evening.

The landing page had carried a banner with a line on top -- "YOU ARE HACKED !!! TEAM INSANE PK" -- on the day of the hacking. Below it was a disturbing image associated with the April 22 attack.

Army Public Schools and the Army College of Nursing are autonomous institutions administered by the Army Welfare Education Society.

The Army College of Nursing is located in Jalandhar Cantonment.

In response to these cyberattacks, "appropriate and necessary measures" are being taken to "bolster" cybersecurity infrastructure, "strengthen digital defence" mechanisms to safeguard against further "intrusion attempts", the sources said.

These efforts are focussed on "enhancing the overall resilience" of online platforms and ensuring that forces are "better prepared to defend against future cyber threats," another source said.