However, the MP-IDSA senior management categorically denied that its website has been hacked.
In a related incident, the group also attempted to hack the official website of Armoured Vehicle Nigam Limited (AVNL), a Defence Public Sector Undertaking (DPSU) under the defence ministry. The hackers reportedly inserted a Pakistan flag and an image of the Al-Khalid tank—a main battle tank of the Pakistan Army—onto the homepage.
Following the suspected hacking, as a precautionary measure, the AVNL website was taken offline to undergo a comprehensive security audit.
Sources in the defence and security establishment said that cyber experts are conducting real-time surveillance to detect and neutralise any additional threats, particularly those originating from or linked to Pakistan.
This latest cyber offensive appears to be part of a coordinated effort as last week, hacker groups believed to be operating out of Pakistan, namely ‘Cyber Group HOAX1337’ and ‘National Cyber Crew’, had attempted to breach websites linked to Army Public School (APS), Nagrota and Sunjuwan.
Though unsuccessful, the hackers tried to hack the school websites with provocative messages referencing the Pahalgam attack.
Additional breaches were also reported: a website offering healthcare services to ex-servicemen was allegedly compromised, as were the portals of the Army Institute of Hotel Management and services for Indian Air Force (IAF) veterans.
These cyber attacks, the sources said, were part of a “pattern of provocation” targeting not just defence infrastructure, but also platforms serving veterans, children, and families.
“There have been repeated attempts by Pakistani hackers to target websites connected to veterans, students and other vulnerable groups,” one of the sources said. “This reflects a new low in cyber warfare tactics.”
The attacks did not start there. On 29 April, a group called ‘IOK Hacker’ (short for ‘Internet of Khilafah’) launched a coordinated campaign targeting multiple Indian welfare and educational platforms such as APS Srinagar and Ranikhet, the Army Welfare Housing Organisation (AWHO) database and the Indian Air Force Placement Cell (IAFPC) portal.
These websites were reported to be defaced with messages referencing Kashmir and featured a prominent Pakistan flag and an image of a masked figure in a Guy Fawkes mask pointing directly at the viewer. One message read: ‘Indian Army Housing Society complete data leak, we know your home address now.’
While the full extent of the breaches remains under investigation, the sources say that measures have been taken to strengthen cyber defences. “Necessary steps are being implemented to secure digital infrastructure and prevent further intrusions,” the above-mentioned source said.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
