Reports from The Times of India indicate that the cyberattacks were focused on key defense public sector units (PSUs), their supporting MSMEs, and essential infrastructure including airports, ports, the Indian Railways, power grids, and major telecom providers such as BSNL. Additionally, digital financial platforms—ranging from UPI services to stock exchanges and mobile wallets—were also in the crosshairs.
Sources suggest these cyber intrusions aimed to steal classified military data, disrupt daily life, and damage India’s global standing. Allegedly, the attackers sought intelligence on missile defense systems and military readiness. In retaliation, India reportedly struck back at Pakistani military infrastructure, although the cyber battlefield remains active.
Cybersecurity expert and Interpol trainer Pendyala Krishna Shastry confirmed the attacks involved a range of methods: malware deployment, denial-of-service (DoS) strikes, phishing schemes, and website defacements. These tactics targeted multiple sectors, including finance, telecom, and public services, aiming to breach systems and sow confusion.
Website tracking portal Zone-H recorded several government domain breaches. Notable targets included the websites of the National Institute of Water Sports (niws.nic.in) and nationaltrust.nic.in, both of which were defaced before being restored. The Central Coalfields Ltd (CCL) website also experienced a breach, displaying a message from a group calling itself “Mr Habib 404 – Pakistani Cyber Force,” declaring, “You thought you were safe, but we are here.”
Although CCL’s Public Relations Officer Alok Gupta dismissed the breach as a technical issue with no data loss, cybersecurity experts warn that downplaying such incidents could weaken national digital defense.
This escalation underscores how cyber warfare is now being integrated into broader military strategies. Experts argue that India must urgently strengthen its cyber defenses to address the growing threat. Priorities include deploying AI-based threat detection, reinforcing CERT-In and sector-specific Security Operation Centres (SOCs), enforcing strong cybersecurity practices across public systems, and expanding collaboration on global cyber intelligence.
As state-sponsored attacks become more sophisticated and frequent, India’s ability to defend its digital frontier will be just as crucial as its military strength.
