Today, cyber security is a pressing challenge facing Pakistan. The country’s IT infrastructure and networks were built in the last ten years without the necessary security safeguards. Fortunately, we have been protected from attacks not because of our impregnable cyber security defenses, but due to the low interest of hackers in our comparatively archaic digitalisation. Unfortunately, in the last two years, the geopolitical shifts due to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and other political factors have brought Pakistan into regional focus for cyber attacks. 

Pakistan experienced its first major cyber attack in November 2018 when the Bank Islami was targetted. Before this, 2017 witnessed the most significant regional attack in recent history in which almost USD 81 million were siphoned off in a SWIFT attack on Bangladesh Central Bank. Moreover, in the last two years, there has been a sharp surge of cyber attacks of various forms ranging from Internet Banking fraud, ATM skimming attacks, SMS and pin code fraud, and identity theft. Blackmailing and abuse on social media has also sharply increased.

This presentation will cover the following core topics:

• Status of cyber security and cyber crime in Pakistan

• Global and regional trends in cyber crime, policy, and law enforcement; comparison with Pakistan

• Assessment of Pakistan’s security effectiveness for critical infrastructure and institutions like the government, private organisations and even citizens

• Data privacy laws and global trends 

• Recommendations for improvement in Pakistan’s security posture.