Imagine waking up to discover that your smartphone has gained a permanent new feature: a government-issued app that cannot be removed. Installed by default and immune to deletion, it operates quietly in the background, raising concerns about who controls personal devices and the data they hold. Read more: Islamabad to launch mobile app for citizen safety Such […]
Cybersecurity
UK government confirms October cyberattack amid China-linked claims
British Trade Department Minister Chris Bryant confirmed on Friday that the UK government suffered a cyberattack in October, partially validating a report by The Sun newspaper. The report claimed that Storm 1849, a Chinese-linked hacking group, may have accessed Foreign Office data, potentially including tens of thousands of visa records. Read More: Details of UK military personnel […]
Google to retire free dark web monitoring tool in 2026
Google has announced it will discontinue its free dark web monitoring feature, which alerts users when their personal information appears in data breaches. The tool, introduced in 2023 as part of Google One and expanded to all account holders in 2024, will stop scanning for new breaches on January 15, 2026, and will be fully […]
Canada set for major AI upgrade as Microsoft invests $5.4B
Microsoft announced it will invest more than C$7.5 billion ($5.42 billion) in Canada over the next two years. The investment aims to boost cloud services and artificial intelligence infrastructure. New capacity is expected to come online in the second half of 2026. This is part of Microsoft’s broader plan to invest C$19 billion in Canada […]
India softens stance on mandatory cybersecurity app
India has signaled a shift in its controversial plan to require smartphone makers to pre-install a government-run cybersecurity app. Communications Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia told lawmakers on Wednesday that the government is open to making changes based on feedback. The app, Sanchar Saathi, is intended to track stolen phones and prevent misuse. Read More: Cyber […]
Apple resists India’s order to preload government app
NEW DELHI: Apple has signalled it will not comply with India’s confidential order to preload smartphones with a state-owned cyber safety app, sources familiar with the matter said on Tuesday. Read More: Apple airlifts 1.5 million iPhones from India to dodge US tariffs The government’s directive, affecting Apple, Samsung, and Xiaomi, mandates installation of an app called Sanchar […]
Cybersecurity Act 2025 sets new direction for Pakistan’s digital defence
ISLAMABAD – Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecom, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, has said that the newly introduced Cybersecurity Act 2025 marks a major milestone in Pakistan’s national security framework. Read More: Federal push to boost cybersecurity across Pakistan She described the legislation as a crucial step toward safeguarding the country’s digital ecosystem and a reflection of […]
Pakistan to form federal cybersecurity authority
ISLAMABAD: Amid rising cyber risks and repeated data breaches, the government has decided to establish a federal-level Cybersecurity Authority to safeguard Pakistan’s digital ecosystem. The authority will be responsible for proposing cybersecurity measures for critical national infrastructure and implementing nationwide cyber protection initiatives. Read More: Pakistan finalising national cybersecurity policy: Shaza Fatima The Ministry of Information Technology […]
Pakistan targeted by seven APT groups amid rising cyberattacks
Pakistan is facing an escalating wave of cyberattacks, with seven advanced persistent threat (APT) groups actively targeting government agencies, intelligence services, the oil and gas sector, and corporate entities, a global cybersecurity firm has revealed. According to Kaspersky, the country experiences around one million attacks every month, equating to cyber threats on a per-minute basis. […]
PTA opens doors to legal VPN services in Pakistan
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has started licensing VPN service providers to ensure secure and legal internet access. This step regulates the growing VPN market. Users can now access services from licensed companies directly. According to Pakistan Television, PTA issued class licenses to more than five companies. These licenses allow providers to offer VPNs for lawful […]