Indian hackers have reportedly become active under the guise of the Pahalgam incident, attempting to access sensitive government data. In response to the looming threat of cyberattacks on government and defence institutions, the Cabinet Division has issued a cybersecurity advisory.
According to media reports, the advisory warns that malware is being spread through suspicious files sent via virus-infected emails and WhatsApp messages, often disguised under the label of the Pahalgam incident. The malware is capable of silently collecting data and images from infected devices.
The advisory strongly recommends avoiding and not opening emails from unknown sources. It further advises that any attachments must be scanned with updated antivirus software before opening, and suspicious emails should be immediately reported to the organisation’s IT administrator.
The advisory also urges government and defence bodies to implement two-factor authentication, use strong passwords, and ensure that computers and laptops have robust, up-to-date antivirus software installed.
Additionally, it recommends not storing official or personal data on unreliable cloud storage services, and avoiding the use of online document conversion tools to maintain data security.
