The Cabinet Division has expressed concerns that Indian-made smartphones, devices, and other technology pose a threat to Pakistan’s cybersecurity. A formal letter has been addressed to all provincial chief secretaries, federal ministries, and federal divisions to address this matter.
According to media sources, the Cabinet Division expressed worries in a letter about the potential for Indian intervention in Pakistan’s vital information infrastructure, stating that cybersecurity might be threatened by geopolitical tensions between the two nations.
The Cabinet Division warned that devices and goods made in India could pose security risks to Pakistan and that sensitive information could be stolen by gaining access to fake websites and portals that look like Apple. These products run the danger of containing malware and collecting user data from Pakistanis.
Concerns have been expressed by sources regarding viruses in these products’ software or hardware. Additionally, there are concerns regarding the possibility of virus or spyware and tampering.
To obtain sensitive data and carry out focused cyberattacks utilising Indian products, hackers may impersonate Apple employees or service centres in India. Portal and website access may result from phishing emails and SMS.
Read more: Around 1,500 WhatsApp accounts of Pakistanis got hacked in 4 months, reveals FIA
The letter states that you should only purchase Apple devices from authorised dealers in Pakistan and that you should always verify the device’s legitimacy before making a purchase. It also suggested using antivirus software, end-to-end encrypted communication services, strong passwords, and the iPhone operating system to update Apple devices on a regular basis.
In order to obtain updates, the Cabinet Division also recommended using Apple’s official channels.
However, recent study from the World Economic Forum (WEF) indicates that global cybersecurity dangers have increased due to geopolitical changes.
According to the Global Security Outlook 2025 study, the complexity of cybersecurity is increasing due to shifts in world politics. This is happening at a time when threats and new technologies are growing at an astounding rate.
60% of organisations, according to the study, have admitted that their cybersecurity plans have been impacted by the constantly shifting geopolitical environment. According to the survey, the deteriorating geopolitical environment has caused a change in people’s views of risk.
A third of CEOs are also concerned about cyber espionage and the theft of intellectual property and private information.
The report also notes that 45 percent of cybersecurity executives are extremely concerned about how the rapid adoption of new technologies will disrupt operations and commercial processes. More risks and challenges are associated with this quick adoption.
According to the survey, companies can lessen the impact of cyberattacks on their aims and objectives by implementing contemporary cybersecurity techniques.
The World Economic Forum’s report, which examined cyber dangers from a social and economic perspective, emphasised the significance of utilising resources to combat them.
The report also shows that organisations are finding it harder to manage security due to supply chain problems, growing shortages in cyber expertise, and complicated regulations.
- AI’s Role in Cybersecurity:
The majority of organisations (66%) believe artificial intelligence (AI) will have a significant impact on cybersecurity in the next years, according to the survey. Furthermore, a significant number of organisations (37%) have emphasised the necessity of developing procedures to evaluate the security of AI technologies before they are implemented. Furthermore, according to the report, 35% of small businesses think their cyber resilience is insufficient.
The public sector is the most impacted, according to the study, with 38% of respondents claiming they lack the necessary expertise to protect against cyberattacks. In private organisations, however, only 10% of employees share this sentiment. The cybersecurity industry also has a talent shortage, with 49% of private organisations stating that they lack enough employees to meet their objectives.