Kerala govt website hacked by pro-Pak group

Thiruvananthapuram: The official website of the Kerala government (www.kerala.gov.in) was hacked late Saturday night, by a suspected pro-Pakistani group.

The hackers also posted a picture of India's National Flag burning on the website along with a message – "Struck By Faisal 1337. Official Website Government of Kerala Hacked! Pakistan Zindabad. We Are Team Pak Cyber Attacker Security is just an illusion".

With the cyber wing of the Kerala Police police launching a probe into the hacking, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy told reporters at his hometown Kottayam on Sunday that the hacking was a 'grave issue'.

Cyber officials are trying to get the control of the website back. As of now, the website shows an 'under maintenance' message.

Efforts were on a war footing to restore the website, Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said.

Chennithala said that once Kerala police's proposed 'cyber dome facility' becomes functional, state government will be able to take necessary precautionary measures.

"Such instances of hacking have taken place all over the world. Once the state police's proposed cyber dome facility at Technopark here becomes functional, security auditing of all government websites will be carried out and we will be able to take all precautionary measures," he said in a Facebook post.

P.H. Kurian, principal secretary for IT and Industries, said that officials are inspecting the website.

The site is now being repaired by the state-owned Centre for Development of Imaging Technology which said the website server had not been hacked.

Three days ago, the website of Chennai Customs was also hacked in a similar manner. The hackers had posted the same image and message on the Chennai Customs website too. Officials are yet to restore it.