In response to a surge in cyberattacks targeting Indian digital infrastructure following the Pahalgam terror incident, the Indian government has directed financial institutions and critical infrastructure sectors to enhance their cybersecurity protocols. These instructions were issued by the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), according to a source familiar with the development, Moneycontrol reported.
The precautionary push isn’t limited to government networks — private sector entities are also actively reinforcing their systems against potential cyber threats. “We have been extra alert right from the Pahalgam attack, in terms of ensuring cyber security speedily not just by government agencies but also by the private sector,” the source stated.
CERT-In, India’s central agency for cyber defense, has released advisories to banking institutions and other essential sectors, urging them to tighten their digital safeguards. In addition, the government has engaged with organizations like NASSCOM to facilitate a collaborative cyber alert framework.
Recent attacks primarily involved DDoS, or distributed denial-of-service incidents, which overwhelm servers with excessive traffic, rendering websites inaccessible and potentially causing financial damage. Attempts to deface websites — typically for political messaging — were also reported.
This intensified focus on digital defense follows India’s military action against terrorist hideouts in Pakistan, occurring nearly two weeks after the Pahalgam incident, which resulted in the deaths of Indian tourists in Kashmir.
Moneycontrol previously highlighted that cyber surveillance across India's vital digital infrastructure is being ramped up following the Pahalgam attack and the subsequent Operation Sindoor. Critical sectors and strategic installations are under strict scrutiny to ensure adherence to robust cybersecurity practices.
Amid these developments, misinformation remains a parallel concern. Daily takedown requests under Section 69A of the IT Act have surpassed 1,000, as the government works with social media platforms to curb the spread of fake news, the source noted.