The Pakistani government has launched an urgent investigation after reports of a massive data leak involving the personal information of millions of SIM card holders, including Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. The stolen data is reportedly being sold openly online, raising serious national security and privacy concerns.
Interior Minister Naqvi immediately ordered a special investigation team, formed by the National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency, to look into the breach. The team has been given 14 days to complete its investigation, identify those responsible, and take legal action.
According to media reports, the sensitive SIM data is being sold on Google platforms for as little as Rs 500 for mobile location and up to Rs 5,000 for foreign travel details. The breach affects both government officials and private citizens.
This is not the first major data leak to impact Pakistan. Just months earlier, the Pakistan National Cyber Emergency Response Team (PKCERT) warned of a global breach that exposed the credentials of over 180 million Pakistani internet users. The data, which included usernames, emails, and passwords, was stolen using "infostealer" malware and stored without any encryption. This made it vulnerable to credential stuffing attacks, identity theft, and other cybercrimes.
In March 2024, a separate investigation found that the data of 2.7 million people had been compromised between 2019 and 2023 in an incident involving the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).
These repeated breaches have raised serious questions about Pakistan’s digital security. As the latest investigation gets underway, the public will be watching closely to see if the government can strengthen its data protection protocols and ensure the safety of its citizens' information.
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