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Introduction
In the wake of escalating geopolitical tensions between India and Pakistan, an onslaught of digital mayhem has taken over social media platforms, with hacktivist groups claiming to have breached over 100 Indian digital infrastructuresâincluding government institutions, courts, and even military systems. While the online buzz painted a picture of severe cyber chaos, new findings reveal a much less dramatic reality.
An in-depth investigation by cybersecurity firm CloudSEK uncovers how many of these attacks were either exaggerated or flat-out fabricated. While cyber collectives like Nation Of Saviors, KAL EGY 319, and SYLHET GANG-SG boasted about high-profile takedowns, the actual damage was mostly symbolicâamounting to temporary defacements, minor data leaks, and DDoS attacks with barely any real-world impact.
Yet, beneath this loud smokescreen, a more insidious and quiet danger lurks. APT36, a Pakistan-linked advanced persistent threat group, has been silently targeting Indiaâs defense and government institutions through sophisticated phishing campaigns and remote-access malware. This shift in strategyâfrom flashy hacktivism to covert espionageâunderscores the evolving nature of cyber warfare in the subcontinent.
India Under Cyber Siege? Not Quite: Hereâs What Really Happened
Recent weeks saw a dramatic uptick in cyberattack claims against India, with over 100 supposed breaches splashed across social media.
Hacktivist groups aligned with anti-India sentiments took credit for these attacks, citing major infiltrations into high-value targets such as the Prime Ministerâs Office and the Election Commission.
However, CloudSEKâs investigation shows that most of these claims donât hold up under scrutiny.
Many defaced websites were restored in minutes, showing little operational disruption.
The alleged “leaked” data was often public domain material or previously compromised files reused for shock value.
For instance, 247 GB of âsensitive dataâ from Indiaâs National Informatics Centre boiled down to 1.5 GB of media files already in the public sphere.
Alleged breaches of the Andhra Pradesh High Court revealed no new informationâmostly rehashed case metadata.
More claims about attacks on the Indian Army and other high-level agencies were either outdated or fabricated.
Much of the hype was driven by Pakistan-based cyber accounts on X (formerly Twitter), who created viral hashtags like OperationSindoor to spread fear.
Groups such as P\@kistanCyberForce and CyberLegendX played central roles in amplifying false narratives.
Despite massive online attention, these incidents had minimal real-world consequences.
These findings point to a concerted disinformation effort rather than a true cyber onslaught.
But while the hacktivist noise rages on, a quieter, more dangerous campaign is in motion.
APT36, known for its nation-state-level tactics, launched a phishing campaign using emotionally manipulative lures.
The April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack was used as bait to trick officials into opening malware-laced PowerPoints and PDFs.
Once clicked, the attachments directed victims to look-alike government sites, where Crimson RAT malware would be silently deployed.
Crimson RAT is a powerful remote access tool, enabling complete control over infected machines.
After infiltration, the malware could record keystrokes, steal files, take screenshots, and execute over 20 commands.
Its operations were stealthy enough to bypass common cybersecurity systems.
This marked a clear escalation from symbolic attacks to targeted cyber espionage.
CloudSEK warns that APT36âs campaign, while quieter, poses a far greater threat to Indiaâs national security than the recent flurry of hacktivist noise.
The cybersecurity community now urges greater vigilance, not just for defacements but for deeply embedded spyware campaigns.
The focus must shift from headline-grabbing attacks to the stealth operations that pose real danger.
What Undercode Say:
This sudden spike in cyberattack claims reflects a modern propaganda model tailored to digital warfareâweaponizing perception more than actual technical sabotage. Hacktivist groups have leveraged visibility over veracity, exploiting media platforms to create a false sense of crisis. Itâs not that these groups donât have skills, but rather that their intent was more psychological than technical. By creating the illusion of vulnerability, they aim to weaken public trust in institutional digital infrastructure.
However,
In contrast, APT36 represents a far more calculated and damaging adversary. Their phishing attacks and the use of Crimson RAT indicate a shift from spectacle to stealth. Using social engineering and legitimate-looking lures, they can bypass conventional security layers. These tactics reveal a strategic patience and long-term intent characteristic of state-sponsored espionage.
More troubling is their ability to exploit emotional and national tragedies like the Pahalgam terror attack for cyber entry points. This underscores the ethical void within such campaigns and the advanced psychological profiling used to ensure success.
Crimson
India must not only invest in defensive technologies but also enhance human intelligence and cybersecurity training to combat spear-phishing and social engineering. Moreover, real-time verification tools, zero-trust frameworks, and threat hunting protocols should be prioritized.
This dual-front cyber challengeânoisy distractions from hacktivists and silent intrusions by APT groupsârequires a layered security response and public education to distinguish between noise and threats. CloudSEKâs findings should serve as a wake-up call: the war isn’t always where the explosions are loudest.
Fact Checker Results
Most hacktivist claims lacked supporting technical evidence and were debunked as symbolic.
Verified breaches involved little to no sensitive data; many were based on public or outdated information.
APT36’s involvement was confirmed by behavioral and malware signature analysis from credible cybersecurity sources.
Prediction
Expect a continued rise in disinformation-led cyber claims, especially around major political events in India. Meanwhile, silent state-linked actors like APT36 will increase their sophistication, using emotionally charged narratives and legitimate-seeming digital lures to gain access. The next phase of cyber warfare in the region will be marked not by noise, but by stealth and strategy.
References:
Reported By: www.infosecurity-magazine.com
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