Surge in cyber attacks, Maharashtra cyber department warns to stay vigilant

Maharashtra Cyber Police warns citizens of rising cyber attacks post 'Operation Sindoor', advising caution and security measures.

Amid the rising tensions along the India-Pakistan border, Maharashtra State Cyber Department on Saturday (May 10, 2025), instructed citizens to “stay vigilant” while interacting with digital content or accessing documents from unverified sources, as there has been a surge in cyber attacks after India launched ‘Operation Sindoor’.

Maharashtra Cyber Police has warned people about malware-infected files targeting individual user devices. “These files are sent as government-related files so that the probability of engaging with the document is high, and once opened, can lead to data theft, system surveillance, or broader network compromise,” stated the Additional Director General of Police office.

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Given the scenario, the authority has advised people to be cautious of clicking on unsolicited links or opening attachments from unverified sources. Users must refrain from downloading documents labelled as government files or opening them without confirming the authenticity of the source.

Other instructions are to use updated antivirus software, regular system scans, secure login practices, and two-factor authentication.

Operation Sindoor is a strategic countermeasure launched in response to the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, where 26 people lost their lives. Maharashtra State Cyber Department has been keeping an eye on online platforms to detect, and act upon unlawful digital activities. While doing so, the department has come across “hostile” cyber entities, who in retaliation to Operation Sindoor are waging cyber warfare.

“The cyber-attacks, including Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks and digital defacement campaigns, have intensified from the other side, attacking infrastructure systems and government websites. These attacks are aimed at disrupting essential public services and undermining the credibility of government platforms,” as per the Maharashtra Cybercrime officials.