In a concerning development, it has come to light that a counterfeit website impersonating Pakistan’s Ministry of IT and Telecom (MoIT&T) has been created and used for nefarious hacking activities. The Pakistani government has responded swiftly by issuing a Cyber Security Advisory to warn the public about the deceptive nature of the fraudulent website. The advisory, released by the government, cautions against accessing the fake/malicious website, which poses as a legitimate government platform under the guise of MoIT&T/FIA (Federal Investigation Agency).
This fraudulent website has been utilized as a lure for hacking activities associated with HZ Hosting Ltd. based in Poland, Europe. Additionally, the advisory highlights the involvement of cybercriminal groups, specifically mentioning the Sidewinder Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) believed to originate from India. This disclosure underscores the complex nature of the cyber threat landscape and the collaboration among malicious actors across borders.
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Moreover, the advisory urges IT administrators to take proactive steps by blacklisting the identified websites and command and control (C&C) servers, where applicable, to mitigate the risk of exploitation. Recognizing the potential widespread impact of this security breach, the government has called upon all federal and provincial ministries, along with associated departments, to circulate the advisory among all stakeholders within their respective organizations. Furthermore, it stresses the importance of implementing necessary protective measures to defend against cyber threats.
