Cybersecurity at risk amid Indo-Pak conflict : Why this crisis demands digital vigilance

As hostilities escalate along the Indo-Pak border, a parallel danger is present in cyberspace. While the kinetic battlefield will draw greater international attention, cybersecurity specialists and policy professionals are also worried about the vulnerabilities referenced above exposed by this geopolitical flashpoint. Unlike traditional warfare, cyber operations are quiet, borderless, and can wreak havoc without firing a shot. 

Why Cyber Threats Rise During Geopolitical Conflicts

History has shown that during regional conflicts, the cyber threat landscape can change dramatically. Nation-state actors, hacktivist groups, and criminal organizations are quick to exploit the disorder, attacking infrastructure and civilians engaged in normal daily activities. 

In the current India-Pakistan scenario, experts anticipate:

• Spike in phishing campaigns designed to steal credentials or distribute malware under the guise of emergency alerts or government advisories.
• Potential disruptions to critical infrastructure, especially in sectors like energy, defence, banking, and communication.
• Disinformation warfare, leveraging social media to manipulate public perception and sow confusion.

Dhiraj Udapure, VP – Technology and Business Development at SCS Tech, observes:

“Last night’s developments have once again underscored the expanding role of cyberspace in geopolitical escalations. Beyond conventional domains, we are now witnessing a sharp uptick in coordinated cyber intrusions, targeted misinformation, and narrative manipulation—all aimed at sowing confusion and undermining public trust.”

He adds that the surge in deepfake content, timed disinformation bursts, and psychological operations has created an urgent need for proactive cyber readiness:

“Real-time threat hunting, penetration testing of critical infrastructure, SIEM deployment, anomaly detection, and malware sandboxing are now baseline necessities. Simultaneously, the information domain must be secured through OSINT surveillance, fact-checking bots, deepfake detection engines, and digital literacy efforts.”

Assessing the Preparedness

Although investments into cybersecurity are increasing, India's digital defences are still at different strengths and maturity levels, and existence of CERT-In and large government agencies on high alert, there also is the reality with low public advisories related to conflict that do not speak to real-time readiness and communication. 

CERT-In tweeted: 

Security is our first priority.#indiancert #cyberswachhtakendra #StaySafeOnline #cybersecurity #besafe #staysafe #mygov #Meity #onlinefraud #cybercrime #scamming #cyberalert #CSK #CyberSecurityAwareness pic.twitter.com/cgPSPotzId

— CERT-In (@IndianCERT) May 8, 2025

Also, we may recognize that the risk is also no longer only at the institutional level. Digital adoptions are at an all time high, from encounter with glitches in online devices to millions of personal devices now connected online, bringing individual users into the equation as 'soft targets.'

Encouragingly, many Indian institutions have begun to upgrade their cybersecurity posture in response to these hybrid threats. Vijender Yadav, Co-Founder and CEO of Accops, notes:

“In light of recent geopolitical developments, organizations are increasingly aware of the heightened risk landscape. The positive shift is clear: Indian institutions are now better prepared with identity-centric, context-aware security — underpinned by multi-factor authentication, zero trust access, and real-time monitoring.”

Accops, for instance, is helping enterprises build secure digital workspaces that go beyond IT fixes and support long-term national resilience:

“This is no longer just an IT challenge; it’s a national continuity imperative — and India is responding with focus, clarity, and preparedness.”

Cyber Hygiene: The First Line of Defence

In the absence of direct alerts, general best practices remain the most effective strategy for the average user. These include:

• Do not download unknown files: Malware often comes hidden in innocent-looking attachments.
• Avoid clicking on suspicious links: Even if they appear to be from friends, verify before engaging.
• Ignore calls or messages from unknown sources: These could be social engineering attempts to gain access or cause panic.
• Stay informed through official channels: Misinformation is a weapon—don’t become a vector.

The Bigger Picture: Strategic Implications

The Indo-Pak cyber dimension is not just about short-term attacks. There are long-term implications:

• Erosion of public trust in digital platforms if disinformation spreads unchecked.
• Economic ramifications if banking or financial systems face disruption.
• Geopolitical blowback from any offensive cyber action traced back to national entities.

Conclusion: Cyber Resilience as a National Imperative

Cybersecurity in 2025 is no longer a backend IT function—it’s a pillar of national defence. As the Indo-Pak conflict unfolds, the government, enterprises, and individuals must treat digital vigilance as seriously as physical safety.

While no major cyberattack has been reported yet, the absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.

In times of conflict, our screens become potential battlegrounds. Staying alert isn’t just good practice—it’s a civic responsibility.