Pakistan-based cyber group targets India again, claims to have breached multiple defence sites

In addition to the data breach, it has also been reported that the group also attempted to deface the official website of Armoured Vehicle Nigam Limited, a PSU company under MoD.

A Pakistan-based group calling itself the "Pakistan Cyber Force" claimed that it accessed sensitive information after breaching Indian defence institutions. The group claimed that it had hacked the Indian Military Engineering Services, the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, and other websites.

Responding to the initial claims, cyber security experts and security agencies have said that they are actively monitoring cyberspace to detect any cyber attacks, reported PTI. "Furthermore, cybersecurity experts and agencies are actively monitoring cyberspace to detect any additional cyber attacks, particularly those that may be sponsored by threat actors linked to Pakistan," reported the news agency quoting officials.

In addition to the data breach, it has also been reported that the group also attempted to deface the official website of Armoured Vehicle Nigam Limited, a PSU company under MoD. The website has been defaced by using the Pakistan flag and the Al Khalid tank, the agency added.

PTI quoting sources said that as a precautionary measure, the website of Armoured Vehicle Nigam Limited has been taken offline for a thorough and deliberate audit, in order to assess the extent of any potential damage caused by the defacement attempt and to ensure the integrity of the website. The claim also suggests that the attackers may have compromised personal information related to defence personnel, including the login credentials.

In response to the situation, appropriate and necessary measures are being taken to bolster the security infrastructure, strengthen digital defences, and safeguard against further intrusion attempts, reported ANI quoting senior security expert. "These efforts are focused on enhancing the overall resilience of online platforms and ensuring that forces are better prepared to defend against future cyber threats," quipped the expert.