Brief Disruptions, Bold Claims: The Tactical Reality Behind the India-Pakistan Hacktivist Surge

SUMMARY :

In May 2025, Pakistan-linked hacktivist groups claimed over 100 cyberattacks on Indian government, education, and critical infrastructure websites. However, an investigation reveals most breaches were exaggerated or fake. Alleged data leaks contained primarily public information, website defacements left no real impact, and DDoS attacks caused minimal disruption. The more significant threat came from APT36, which used Crimson RAT malware to target Indian defense networks following the Pahalgam terror attack. The malware, delivered through phishing emails with malicious attachments, allows remote execution of commands and data exfiltration. While hacktivist claims generated alarming headlines, the actual impact was limited, with most targeted websites operating normally.

OPENCTI LABELS :

phishing,india,ddos,pakistan,crimson rat,cyberattack,data leak,apt36,defacement,hacktivist


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Brief Disruptions, Bold Claims: The Tactical Reality Behind the India-Pakistan Hacktivist Surge