FIA foils attempts to hack its website

Published February 15, 2009

ISLAMABAD, Feb 14: The Federal Investigation Agency, which has been asked to look into Indian allegations about the involvement of Pakistanis in the Mumbai terror attacks, has foiled multiple attempts to hack its website and computer networks within minutes of the interior ministry’s disclosure of its preliminary findings.

The multiple hacking attempts occurred on Thursday — the day the prime minister’s adviser on interior Rehman Malik held a press conference on the subject.

Sources told Dawn News that the FIA managed to restore its website within 15 minutes after it was hacked by unidentified people.

Since Thursday, the FIA’s cyber crime wing has recorded multiple attempts by the unnamed hackers to infiltrate the agency’s networks hosting sensitive information.

The agency high-ups are said to have been taken aback by the hackers’ prompt action.

Sources claim that the investigators had managed to locate the origin of the attack, adding that the attempted hacking operation was launched beyond Pakistan’s borders.

It is also believed that a number of such attempts were motivated by curiosity to find out the list of questions forwarded by Islamabad to Indian authorities for further information into the Mumbai saga.

Investigators are trying to ascertain if the attempted hacking was an isolated act or something more complex, following various bids to hack into its databases.

The FIA officials said the agency was vigilant in view of threats from internal and external factors, adding that it had adequate measures in place to foil and track down any hacking attempts.

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.