New Delhi: Hackers focused over 1,000 Indian web sites as a part of their Independence Day marketing campaign underneath the hashtag OpIndia, cyber-security researchers revealed on Friday. The malicious marketing campaign, orchestrated by hacktivist teams from varied international locations, utilized ways equivalent to DDoS assaults, defacement assaults, and consumer account takeovers, based on the CloudSEK workforce.
The hacktivist marketing campaign on Independence Day, pushed by political and non secular motives, centered on susceptible web sites with decrease safety measures and digital infrastructure throughout sectors together with authorities, schooling, BFSI (banking, monetary providers, and insurance coverage), and small companies. (Also Read: Heaviest RAM EVER! Realme GT 5 Confirmed To Feature 24GB RAM And 240W Fast Charging)
Government and BFSI sectors bore the brunt of DDoS assaults, whereas schooling and small companies suffered bulk defacement assaults and entry panel takeovers, the report famous. (Also Read: India’s Cities Ranked By Cost Of Living: Check The Most Expensive And Best Pocket-Friendly Cities To Live In)
“Despite their current limitations, these groups could become a significant threat to countries in the near future. The rise in collaboration and easy access to attack tools and data, combined with potential support from state-sponsored hackers, might amplify their impact,” mentioned Abhinav Pandey, cyber menace researcher, CloudSEK
The cyber-security agency mentioned it knowledgeable all of the organizations and corporations focused by hacktivists.
While hacktivist teams from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and different nations directed their efforts towards Indian web sites, CloudSEK’s analysis signifies that the claims of DDoS assaults and consumer account takeovers have been exaggerated for consideration and fame.
“These claims, often made in their communication channels, have not been fully verified by CloudSEK researchers. However, the tactics and tools used by the hacktivist groups closely align with the findings presented in CloudSEK’s Hacktivism Whitepaper,” the corporate mentioned.
Responding to assaults on Indian infrastructure, Indian factions employed comparable methods, focusing on web sites related to Bangladesh’s air pressure, navy, military, and nationwide income board, in addition to a spread of Pakistani ministries and authorities entities.
The cyber-security company additionally revealed a major spike in hacktivist assaults in the course of the first quarter of 2023 with India rising as the first focus of assaults, carefully adopted by Israel, Poland, Australia, and Pakistan.
