Today: 31 May 2025
17 November 2021
1 min read

Pak hackers target Afghan officials

The Pak-based hackers operated fake app stores and also compromised legitimate websites to host malicious phishing pages to manipulate people…reports Asian Lite News

Hackers from the Pakistan have been using Facebook to trap former Afghan users by creating fake profiles. Facebook on Tuesday said it has removed a group of hackers from Pakistan that created fictitious profiles – typically of young women – as romantic lures to build trust with potential targets in Afghanistan and trick them into clicking on phishing links or downloading malicious chat apps.

The group, known as SideCopy, targeted people who were connected to the previous Afghan government, military, and law enforcement agencies in Kabul.

“We disabled their accounts, blocked their domains from being posted on our platform, shared information with our industry peers, security researchers and law enforcement agencies, and alerted the people who we believe were targeted by these hackers,” Facebook (now Meta) said in a statement.

The Pak-based hackers operated fake app stores and also compromised legitimate websites to host malicious phishing pages to manipulate people into giving up their Facebook credentials.

SideCopy attempted to trick people into installing trojanised chat apps (containing malware that misled people about its true intent), including messengers posing as Viber and Signal, or custom-made Android apps that contained malware to compromise devices.

Among them were apps named HappyChat, HangOn, ChatOut, TrendBanter, SmartSnap, and TeleChat — some of which were in fact functioning chat applications, said Facebook.

ALSO READ: Plummeting Pakistani rupee reveals deeper economic problems

Previous Story

Israeli embassy conducts free health clinic for underprivileged in Delhi

Next Story

Pakistan teaches Taliban to fly

Latest from -Top News

World needs Dubai’s ambition: Morgan

Piers Morgan has hailed Dubai’s transformation as an example of what visionary leadership can achieve. British broadcaster Piers Morgan has praised the extraordinary ambition and vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin

Mohammed honours football champions

Ruler of Dubai hails players as role models during palace reception His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, received the

Abu Dhabi sets 2050 energy vision

Abu Dhabi unveils AED400 billion energy roadmap, inked climate finance pact ahead of 2026 UN Water Conference Abu Dhabi has unveiled a sweeping strategic framework to transform its energy and water sector

Gargash: UAE’s pragmatism sets regional example

Anwar Gargash says the UAE stands as a beacon of what is possible when pragmatism and vision come together. As political instability, economic fragmentation and rapid technological change continue to reshape the

US flag returns to Damascus

Billions in energy deals and lifted sanctions mark Syria’s reintegration, as US reopens embassy and declares the war-torn nation “open for business” under new regional partnerships. The United States has reopened its
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Next country on Taliban list is Pakistan

Taliban fighters believe that the current government set-up in Pakistan

Around 50k traders lose jobs due to Chaman border closure

Chaman is one of two main border crossings between Pakistan