Pakistan hackers target Indian Army Schools and welfare sites, India foils attempt

In a fresh wave of cyber provocations, hacker groups based in Pakistan attempted to deface and disrupt several Indian websites associated with children, veterans, and welfare services. The coordinated attacks occurred on Thursday and were successfully neutralised by Indian cybersecurity agencies, preventing any critical damage or data breaches.

The hacker groups identified themselves as "Cyber Group HOAX1337" and "National Cyber Crew." They tried to infiltrate the websites of Army Public Schools in Nagrota and Sunjuwan. The attackers attempted to deface the pages with inflammatory messages mocking the victims of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 individuals, mostly tourists.

One particularly disturbing breach involved the defacement of a website dedicated to the healthcare of ex-servicemen. Officials described this move as an intentional attempt to target emotionally sensitive platforms, exploiting the nation's grief for cyber propaganda. The attack was designed to provoke outrage and instigate fear among vulnerable communities.

Additional targets included the Army Institute of Hotel Management and the Indian Air Force veterans’ services portal. These platforms, while non-combatant, hold symbolic and emotional value. Officials noted that such repeated cyber aggression signals Pakistan’s increasing frustration and descent into unethical digital warfare, especially after its failure to impact critical infrastructure.

The hacker activity extended beyond mere defacements. Army Public School Srinagar came under a distributed-denial-of-service (DDoS) attack, aimed at overwhelming the server. APS Ranikhet also faced similar propaganda-driven intrusions. Indian cyber response teams quickly isolated affected systems, preventing any leaks of operational or sensitive information.

Meanwhile, tensions between the two nations continue to escalate. For eight consecutive days, Pakistan has been engaging in unprovoked small arms firing along the Line of Control, targeting Indian Army posts in Kupwara, Baramulla, Poonch, Naushera, and Akhnoor. Indian forces have responded proportionately, maintaining operational discipline amid growing hostilities.