PTA detects 326 cyber threats on Dark Web, website defacement tops list
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has detected 326 significant cyber threat indicators through Dark Web monitoring in a year, including 174 website defacement incidents, 87 data leaks and 41 distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) threats, highlighting persistent vulnerabilities in Pakistan’s digital infrastructure. According to the PTA’s Cyber Security Annual Report 2025-26,…
Pakistan's Telecommunication Authority (PTA) observed 326 significant cyber threat indicators on the Dark Web in a year, according to their Cyber Security Annual report covering July 2025 to June 2026. The most common threat was website defacement, making up 53 percent of all detected indicators, while data leaks accounted for 27 percent and DDoS-related threats made up 13 percent.
The report also noted 24 cases, or seven percent, of sensitive information being advertised or sold on Dark Web forums and marketplaces. Compromised credentials and organizational data exposed through data leaks posed a particular risk, as they could be exploited by cybercriminals. Despite this, website defacement remained the dominant threat category, indicating ongoing attempts to compromise online platforms.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority's Cyber Security Annual report highlighted that continuous Dark Web intelligence monitoring had improved the authority's ability to detect emerging cyber threats and malicious activities that might otherwise go unnoticed.
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