The federal government has uncovered the fake website posing as the Ministry of IT and Telecom (MoIT&T), being utilized for nefarious hacking activities raised serious concerns.
The Pakistani government has acted swiftly, issuing a Cyber Security Advisory to warn the public about the deceptive nature of this fraudulent website.
The advisory cautions against accessing the fake platform, which mimics a legitimate government site under MoIT&T/FIA (Federal Investigation Agency). It has been identified as a tool for hacking operations linked to HZ Hosting Ltd. based in Poland, Europe.
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Moreover, the advisory underscores the involvement of cybercriminal groups, specifically mentioning the Sidewinder Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) originating from India. This revelation highlights the complexity of cyber threats and the collaboration among malicious entities across borders.
Additionally, IT administrators are urged to take proactive steps by blacklisting the identified websites and command and control (C&C) servers to mitigate the risk of exploitation.
Recognizing the potential widespread ramifications of this security breach, the government has called upon all federal and provincial ministries, alongside associated departments, to communicate the advisory to stakeholders within their organizations.