Operation Sindoor: CERT-In issues advisory on DDoS threats to critical sectors after Pahalgam terror attack

On May 7, India launched missile strikes on terrorist cells in Pakistan

To counter the surge in cyberattacks on Indian digital entities following the Pahalgam terror attack, the Indian government, through the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), has issued special instructions to financial institutions and critical sectors to strengthen their cyber defences, a source familiar with the matter told Moneycontrol.

The urgency extends beyond government systems, with private industry also being actively involved in responding swiftly to emerging threats.

“We have been extra alert right from the Pahalgam attack, in terms of ensuring cyber security speedily not just by government agencies but also by the private sector,” the person cited above said.

India’s nodal cyber agency, CERT-In, has issued advisories to financial sectors including banks and other critical sectors, the source said. The government, meanwhile, has also engaged with industry bodies such as NASSCOM to coordinate a broader alert mechanism, the source added..

The source added that most recent cyber incidents have involved distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks and attempts to deface Indian websites.

DDoS attacks disrupt websites by flooding servers with traffic, causing downtime and potential financial losses. Defacement of websites involve vandalising the website to spread a message, usually political in nature.

This push for industry-wide coordination comes as India hit terrorist cells in Pakistan, nearly a fortnight after terrorists killed Indian tourists in Pahalgam, Kashmir.

Moneycontrol also reported on how the country is ramping up cyber surveillance of its critical infrastructure following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam and Operation Sindoor.

Particular attention is being paid to ensure that proper cybersecurity practices are being maintained in sensitive industries and strategic assets, and installations.

Meanwhile, daily takedown requests to counter misinformation under Section 69A of the IT Act have crossed 1,000. The government has also held meetings with social media intermediaries in this regard, Moneycontrol has learnt.