Cyber Retaliation: ABP News Hacked by "Pakistan Cyber Force"
In a direct response to the recent hijacking of Pakistani news networks, a hacking collective known as the "Pakistan Cyber Force" has claimed responsibility for a successful breach of the Indian news giant ABP News. The attack, which took place on Monday, March 2, saw the channel’s digital presence and live broadcast streams manipulated to display pro-Pakistan content.
The "Retaliatory" Breach
The incident is being framed by the hackers as a "tit-for-tat" operation. Just 24 hours prior, Pakistani networks including Geo News, ARY News, and Samaa TV were hijacked with anti-military messages and pro-Mossad advertisements.
Technical Highlights of the ABP Breach:
- The Content: Viewers reported that the regular Hindi-language broadcast was interrupted by static, followed by slogans of "Pakistan Hamesha Zindabad" (Pakistan Forever Long-Live) appearing in large letters across the screen.
- Military Propaganda: The hackers aired excerpts of speeches by Pakistan's Chief of Defence Forces, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, alongside promotional videos for the Pakistan Army.
- Digital Defacement: Reports from state broadcaster Radio Pakistan confirmed that the breach extended to ABP’s online streaming platforms, where slogans echoed for several minutes before technical teams could regain control.
The "New Era" of Cross-Border Cyber War
For the Hacklido community, this isn't just "hacktivism"—it is a sophisticated display of modern signal intrusion and IP-based broadcast manipulation.
- Playout Hijacking: Much like the Geo News incident, analysts suspect the attackers gained access to the Master Control Room (MCR) playout software. By compromising the internal VLAN, they were able to inject high-definition video files directly into the live transmission path.
- Social Media Amplification: Within minutes of the breach, "clean" screen recordings of the hacked broadcast were widely circulated on X (formerly Twitter) and Telegram, suggesting the attackers had a coordinated "PR wing" ready to amplify the disruption.
- Investigation Underway: Indian authorities and ABP News’ technical team have reportedly launched a forensic audit to determine if the breach originated from a compromised remote-access credential or a zero-day vulnerability in the station's broadcast automation system.
The Hacklido Takeaway
The ABP News hack proves that Media is the New Frontline.
- Broadcast Integrity: In 2026, news channels are high-value targets for psychological operations (PSYOPs). Security teams must implement Hardware-in-the-Loop (HIL) verification for all outgoing video signals to detect unauthorized graphic overlays.
Geopolitical Trigger: The timing coinciding with extreme Middle East tensions and Pakistan’s "open war" declaration with Afghanistan—suggests that regional cyber actors are at a state of peak "readiness."
