Indian-made mobile phones, devices threat to Pak cybersecurity

ISLAMABAD: Indian-made mobile phones and other devices have become a threat to Pakistan’s cybersecurity, while Indian-made iPhones and related devices have been declared a serious risk to Pakistani consumers.

The Cabinet Division sent a letter to federal ministries, divisions and all provincial chief secretaries in this regard. Government sources say the letter highlights cybersecurity concerns due to Indian interference in Pakistan’s sensitive information infrastructure, monitoring and geopolitical tensions with India, while sensitive data can be stolen through access to fake websites and Apple-style portals.

According to sources, Indian manufactured products and devices could pose a security risk to Pakistan and there is a risk of data collection of Pakistani consumers by such productions and the presence of malware viruses, while there is a risk of the presence of viruses along with hardware or software in the manufacture of products, possible tampering and the risk of presence of malware or spyware viruses.

According to sources, Indian products can lead to targeted cyber activities through data interception. Hackers can impersonate Apple support agents or service centers in India, and access portals and websites through fake emails or messages. The letter recommends purchasing Apple products in Pakistan from certified resellers, checking the seals of the devices at the time of purchase, and keeping Apple devices updated through the iPhone operating system.

The letter recommends using end-to-end encrypted services for communication, strong passwords, and antivirus applications, as well as getting updates from Apple’s official channels.