Daily Times

The need to promote digital literacy as well as putting in place digital defence mechanisms can be gauged from the fact that intimidating spy gangs have tried to target and sabotage our military and government mechanism. Cyber-attacks are becoming the most modern warfare tool, often even more lethal than the traditional warfare arsenal. The news about cyberattacks from Indian gangs on military and government installations has been shared by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement, which said that a probe has been initiated into the attempt. As per the statement, “Pakistan’s intelligence agencies have identified a major cyberattack by Indian intelligence agencies involving a range of cybercrimes, including deceitful fabrication by hacking personal mobiles and technical gadgets of government officials and military personnel”. Though the press release does not offer much detail, it can be ascertained that Indian spy networks, with the help of some other foreign states which have advanced digital structures, have tried to invade government and military officials’ mobile phones as well as computer networks of sensitive offices, and steal sensitive information besides making the networks dysfunctional. To combat such attacks, another way, besides higher digital education, is the initiation of strict standard operating procedures (SOPs) regarding cyber security. Our armed forces have placed such SOPs and for that reasons they have detected the attack and strict action will also be initiated against those found breaching SOPs on cyber security. Our government offices, however, have yet to reach that level. A few government institutions, such as the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), are exceptions. The data safety and security mechanism by NADRA has been declared exemplary and invisible by the world digital institutions. It has become a case study for several nations working on data security.

Safety of data – both soft and hard – has become a critical issue for almost all nations. The technology, which has brought about positive changes to our lives, has also brought out the bad side of it – hackers, cyber cons and so on. Recently, banks were on alert after hackers stole cash from functional accounts of clients. Similarly, data breach was reported from ATMs. After such reports, law-enforcement agencies came into action and traced several thieving cyber minds. Given the rising tensions between India and Pakistan after the Balakot stand-off, Indian spy networks may come up with more such state-sponsored attacks. Our armed forces are ready to repulse such attempts as they do on the actual battlefield. *