Official data consisting of email communication with countries and financial institutions on friendly terms with the country was hacked three months ago, a local newspaper reported citing Pakistan’s Ministry of Finance and Revenue.
It said that the hacker behind the attack apparently contacted one social media platform in Pakistan and shared just a sample of data that was stolen from the Finance Ministry. The social media platform verified the contents to be official communication from the ministry containing sensitive information regarding important subjects for Pakistan’s economy and security.
The newspaper said that a ministry spokesperson had initially rejected the news that nothing of the sort had taken place.
However, the ministry itself issued a statement later that news of a hacking attempt and data leak had been making rounds on social media. It was clarified that the news concerns a hacking attempt that had been reported some three months ago. The ministry said that it had taken immediate steps and carried out a thorough cyber security audit.
Since then, the Finance Division has implemented numerous measures and protocols to strengthen cyber security of its IT infrastructure and official data, the statement concluded.
