Shillong, August 18: A recent cyber campaign known as OpIndia, conducted on Independence Day, saw hackers targeting more than 1,000 Indian websites, according to cybersecurity researchers.
As per IANS, orchestrated by hacktivist groups spanning different countries, the campaign employed tactics including DDoS attacks, defacement attacks, and user account takeovers. CloudSEK, the research team behind the findings, revealed that the malicious effort was politically and religiously driven, concentrating on websites with lower security measures across sectors such as government, education, BFSI (banking, financial services, and insurance), and small businesses.
DDoS attacks predominantly impacted the government and BFSI sectors, while education and small businesses encountered bulk defacement attacks and access panel takeovers, the report highlighted. Although currently limited, these hacktivist groups could pose a substantial threat in the future, potentially amplified by collaboration, access to attack tools, data, and even support from state-sponsored hackers, warned Abhinav Pandey, a cyber threat researcher at CloudSEK.
The cyber-security firm promptly alerted all targeted organizations and companies about the hacktivist campaign. While hacktivist groups from several nations focused on Indian websites, CloudSEK’s research suggested that some claims regarding DDoS attacks and user account takeovers might be exaggerated for attention. The company emphasized that though these claims weren’t fully verified, the hacktivist groups’ tactics closely aligned with their own research.
In response to attacks on Indian infrastructure, Indian factions adopted similar strategies, targeting websites affiliated with Bangladesh’s air force, military, army, and national revenue board, along with various Pakistani ministries and government entities. CloudSEK also highlighted a significant surge in hacktivist attacks during the first quarter of 2023, with India as the primary target, followed closely by Israel, Poland, Australia, and Pakistan.