Hacking scandal unearthed: PU female students' data sold out on dark web

LAHORE: A major hacking scandal which is said to be biggest in Pakistan has unearthed as the stolen data of various female students of Punjab University (PU) was sold out on ‘Dark Web’, ARY News reported on Thursday.

The latest revelations raised eyebrows of many regarding measures taken by cybersecurity units working across the country to curb such criminal activities on world wide web.

Sources said that stolen data of the varsity’s female students, including phone numbers, photos and videos, was being traded to Dark Web users.

“The stolen data was transacted in renowned decentralised digital currency, Bitcoin, while this heinous business is still going on,” said sources. They confirmed that hackers have used spy apps for thieving the students’ information.

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However, further details regarding the number of individuals whose data was stolen and major sources of information collection sniped by hackers are yet to be known.

When contacted the Punjab University (PU) officials, they clarified that no information of female students existed on the varsity’s official website.

“PU administration has written a letter to Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and exchange of information will be made after the commencement of formal probe,” the spokesperson confirmed.

The spokesperson said that the varsity will take strict action against the persons responsible for hacking personal data of its students.

The FIA cyber crimes’ circle has also initiated a thorough investigation into the matter.

What is ‘Dark Web’?

A cyber security expert Chaudhry Mansab Ali had exposed some details regarding the functioning of ‘Dark Web’ by cybercriminals in ARY News’ programme “Sar-e-Aam” in February last year.

He detailed that “Dark Web is basically a network which requires a special browser to access. A number of users pay in cryptocurrency for illegal services like murder, sexual abuse and even financial services.”

Mansab maintained that a number of users access dark web through TOR network (anonymity network) but illegal businesses who offer services for crime like murder, data theft, slave trade and child abuse sometimes sell a specially built browser to access their site.

About how data theft takes place, Mansab maintained that dark web specialists sometimes hack online shopping sites or financial services sites to steal the data of large number of users.

“Credit card data of Pakistani users is currently being sold for about 2,000 rupees each,” said Mansab.

Another cyber security expert, Tanveer Landla, while shedding light on it, said that other than surface web (social media sites and search engines we use daily), there are two sections of web- deep web and dark web- with deep web being used by states for sensitive data and dark web being used by free thinkers and some criminals also.