Following the Pahalgam terror incident, India experienced a massive wave of cyberattacks launched by hostile hacker groups operating from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and parts of the Middle East. As per a detailed investigation by the Maharashtra Cyber Cell, over 1.5 million cyber intrusions targeted Indian websites and digital systems in a deliberate, coordinated assault meant to disrupt national infrastructure and spread psychological unrest.

According to a government report titled “Road of Sindoor,” the cyber onslaught was a retaliatory move against India’s military operation conducted under the same name. The attacks aimed at government portals, municipal databases, aviation systems, and other vital infrastructure.

Despite the scale of the offensive, only 150 of the attacks showed limited success, marking a mere 0.01% success rate. This reflects India’s growing cyber resilience and the relatively low effectiveness of these foreign cyber operatives.

The Maharashtra Cyber Cell report identified seven key hacker groups orchestrating the campaign:

These collectives employed tactics such as DDoS attacks, malware deployment, GPS spoofing, and website defacements. One of the more visible intrusions was the defacement of the Kulgaon Badlapur Municipal Council website. Additionally, several unverified claims circulated online, alleging cyber breaches of the Mumbai airport systems and telecom infrastructures.

More concerning was the coordinated use of disinformation, which sought to falsely portray that India's banking sector, power grid, and satellite systems had been compromised. The report revealed that over 5,000 fake social media posts linked to the India-Pakistan conflict were detected and removed.

Even as a ceasefire agreement remained in place between India and Pakistan, cyber offensives continued, especially from Bangladesh, Indonesia, and allied Middle Eastern entities. While officials observed a decline in attack frequency post-ceasefire, they confirmed that the attacks never fully stopped.

Authorities stated, “These campaigns weren’t amateur attempts. They were designed to destabilize. Though thwarted, they signal a persistent digital threat landscape India must be prepared for.”

State and national intelligence units are now working in tandem to bolster surveillance, reinforce cybersecurity protocols, and pre-empt future threats.

The “Road of Sindoor” report has been formally shared with the Director General of Police, the State Intelligence Department, and other key law enforcement bodies, affirming India’s strategic focus on digital sovereignty and cybersecurity preparedness.