#FactCheck - Old Video of US Soldiers’ Coffins Mislinked to Iran War

Introduction 

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The digital landscape of the nation has reached a critical point in its evolution. The rapid adoption of technologies such as cloud computing, mobile payment systems, artificial intelligence, and smart infrastructure has led to a high degree of integration between digital systems and governance, commercial activity, and everyday life. As dependence on these systems continues to grow, a wide range of cyber threats has emerged that are complex, multi-layered, and closely interconnected. By 2026, cyber security threats directed at India are expected to include an increasing number of targeted, well-organised, and strategic cyber attacks. These attacks are likely to focus on exploiting the trust placed in technology, institutions, automation, and the fast pace of technological change.

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1. Social Engineering 2.0: Hyper-Personalised AI Phishing & Mobile Banking Malware

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Cybercriminals have moved from generalised methods to hyper-targeted attacks through AI-based psychological manipulation. In addition to social media profiles, data breaches, and digital/tracking footprints, the latest types of cybercrimes expected in 2026 will involve AI-based analysis of this information to create and increase the use of hyper-targeted phishing emails.

Phishing emails are capable of impersonating banks, employers, and even family members, with all the same regionally or culturally relevant tone, language, and context as would be done if these persons were sending the emails in person.

With malicious applications disguised as legitimate service apps, cybercriminals have the ability to intercept and capture One-Time Passwords (OTPs), hijack user sessions, and steal money from user accounts in a matter of minutes.

These types of attempts or attacks are successful not only because of their technical sophistication, but because they take advantage of human trust at scale, giving them an almost limitless reach into the financial systems of people around the world through their computers and mobile devices.

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2. Cloud and Supply Chain Vulnerabilities

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As Indian organisations increasingly migrate to cloud infrastructure, cloud misconfigurations are emerging as a major cybersecurity risk. Weak identity controls, exposed storage, and improper access management can allow attackers to bypass traditional network defences. Alongside this, supply chain attacks are expected to intensify in 2026.

In supply chain attacks, cybercriminals compromise a trusted software vendor or service provider to infiltrate multiple downstream organisations. Even entities with strong internal security can be affected through third-party dependencies. For India’s startup ecosystem, government digital platforms, and IT service providers, this presents a systemic risk. Strengthening vendor risk management and visibility across digital supply chains will be essential.

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3. Threats to IoT and Critical Infrastructure

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By implementing smart cities, digital utilities, and connected public services, IoT has opened itself up to increased levels of operational technology (OT) through India’s initiative. However, there is currently a lack of adequate security in the form of strong authentication, encryption, and update methods available on many IoT devices. By the year 2026, attackers are going to be able to exploit these vulnerabilities much more than they already are.

Cyberattacks on critical infrastructure such as energy, transportation, healthcare, and telecom systems have far-reaching consequences that extend well beyond data loss; they directly affect the provision of essential services, can damage public safety, and raise concerns over national security. Effectively securing critical infrastructure needs to involve dedicated security solutions to deal with the specific needs of critical infrastructure, in contrast to conventional IT security.

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4. Hidden File Vectors and Stealth Payload Delivery

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SVG File Abuse in Stealth Attacks

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Cybercriminals are continually searching for ways to bypass security filters, and hidden file vectors are emerging as a preferred tactic. One such method involves the abuse of SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) files. Although commonly perceived as harmless image files, SVGs can contain embedded scripts capable of executing malicious actions.

By 2026, SVG-based attacks are expected to be used in phishing emails, cloud file sharing, and messaging platforms. Because these files often bypass traditional antivirus and email security systems, they provide an effective stealth delivery mechanism. Indian organisations will need to rethink assumptions about “safe” file formats and strengthen deep content inspection capabilities.

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5. Quantum-Era Cyber Risks and “Harvest Now, Decrypt Later” Attacks

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Although practical quantum computers are still emerging, quantum-era cyber risks are already a present-day concern. Adversaries are believed to be intercepting and storing encrypted data now with the intention of decrypting it in the future once quantum capabilities mature—a strategy known as “harvest now, decrypt later.” This poses serious long-term confidentiality risks.

Recognising this threat, the United States took early action during the Biden administration through National Security Memorandum 10, which directed federal agencies to prepare for the transition to quantum-resistant cryptography. For India, similar foresight is essential, as sensitive government communications, financial data, health records, and intellectual property could otherwise be exposed retrospectively. Preparing for quantum-safe cryptography will therefore become a strategic priority in the coming years.

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6. AI Trust Manipulation and Model Exploitation

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Poisoning the Well – Direct Attacks on AI Models

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As artificial intelligence systems are increasingly used for decision-making—ranging from fraud detection and credit scoring to surveillance and cybersecurity—attackers are shifting focus from systems to models themselves. “Poisoning the well” refers to attacks that manipulate training data, feedback mechanisms, or input environments to distort AI outputs.

In the context of India's rapidly growing digital ecosystem, compromised AI models can result in biased decisions, false security alerts or denying legitimate services. The big problem with these types of attacks is they may occur without triggering conventional security measures. Transparency, integrity and continuous monitoring of AI systems will be key to creating and maintaining stakeholder confidence in the decision-making process of the automated systems.

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Recommendations

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Despite the increasing sophistication of malicious cyber actors, India is entering this phase with a growing level of preparedness and institutional capacity. The country has strengthened its cyber security posture through dedicated mechanisms and relevant agencies such as the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, which play a central role in coordination, threat response, and capacity building. At the same time, sustained collaboration among government bodies, non-governmental organisations, technology companies, and academic institutions has expanded cyber security awareness, skill development, and research. These collective efforts have improved detection capabilities, response readiness, and public resilience, placing India in a stronger position to manage emerging cyber threats and adapt to the evolving digital environment.

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Conclusion 

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By 2026, complexity, intelligence, and strategic intent will increasingly define cyber threats to the digital ecosystem. Cyber criminals are expected to use advanced methods of attack, including artificial intelligence assisted social engineering and the exploitation of cloud supply chain risks. As these threats evolve, adversaries may also experiment with quantum computing techniques and the manipulation of AI models to create new ways of influencing and disrupting digital systems. In response, the focus of cybersecurity is shifting from merely preventing breaches to actively protecting and restoring digital trust. While technical controls remain essential, they must be complemented by strong cybersecurity governance, adherence to regulatory standards, and sustained user education. As India continues its digital transformation, this period presents a valuable opportunity to invest proactively in cybersecurity resilience, enabling the country to safeguard citizens, institutions, and national interests with confidence in an increasingly complex and dynamic digital future.

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References

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1. https://www.seqrite.com/india-cyber-threat-report-2026/ 
2. https://www.uscsinstitute.org/cybersecurity-insights/blog/ai-powered-phishing-detection-and-prevention-strategies-for-2026
3. https://www.expresscomputer.in/guest-blogs/cloud-security-risks-that-should-guide-leadership-in-2026/130849/ 
4. https://www.hakunamatatatech.com/our-resources/blog/top-iot-challenges 
5. https://csrc.nist.gov/csrc/media/Presentations/2024/u-s-government-s-transition-to-pqc/images-media/presman-govt-transition-pqc2024.pdf
6. https://www.cyber.nj.gov/Home/Components/News/News/1721/214 

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Executive Summary:

A video purporting to be from Lal Chowk in Srinagar, which features Lord Ram's hologram on a clock tower, has gone popular on the internet. The footage is from Dehradun, Uttarakhand, not Jammu and Kashmir, the CyberPeace Research Team discovered.

Claims:

A Viral 48-second clip is getting shared over the Internet mostly in X and Facebook, The Video shows a car passing by the clock tower with the picture of Lord Ram. A screen showcasing songs about Lord Ram is shown when the car goes forward and to the side of the road.

The Claim is that the Video is from Kashmir, Srinagar

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Fact Check:

The CyberPeace Research team found that the Information is false. Firstly we did some keyword search relating to the Caption and found that the Clock Tower in Srinagar is not similar to the Video. 

We found an article by NDTV mentioning Srinagar Lal Chowk’s Clock Tower, It's the only Clock Tower in the Middle of Road. We are somewhat confirmed that the Video is not From Srinagar. We then ran a reverse image search of the Video by breaking down into frames.  

We found another Video that visualizes a similar structure tower in Dehradun.

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Taking a cue from this we then Searched for the Tower in Dehradun and tried to see if it matches with the Video, and yes it’s confirmed that the Tower is a Clock Tower in Paltan Bazar, Dehradun and the Video is actually From Dehradun but not from Srinagar.

Conclusion:

After a thorough Fact Check Investigation of the Video and the originality of the Video, we found that the Visualisation of Lord Ram in the Clock Tower is not from Srinagar but from Dehradun. Internet users who claim the Visual of Lord Ram from Srinagar is totally Baseless and Misinformation.

• Claim: The Hologram of Lord Ram on the Clock Tower of Lal Chowk, Srinagar
• Claimed on: Facebook, X
• Fact Check: Fake

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Introduction

In the sprawling online world, trusted relationships are frequently taken advantage of by cybercriminals seeking to penetrate guarded systems. The Watering Hole Attack is one advanced method, which focuses on a user’s ecosystem by compromising the genuine sites they often use. This attack method is different from phishing or direct attacks as it quietly exploits the everyday browsing of the target to serve malicious content. The quiet and exact nature of watering hole attacks makes them prevalent amongst Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) groups, especially in conjunction with state-sponsored cyber-espionage operations.

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What Qualifies as a Watering Hole Attack?  

A Watering Hole Attack targets and infects a trusted website. The targeted website is one that is used by a particular organization or community, such as a specific industry sector. This type of cyberattack is analogous to the method of attack used by animals and predators waiting by the water’s edge for prey to drink. Attackers prey on their targets by injecting malicious code, such as an exploit kit or malware loader, into websites that are popular with their victims. These victims are then infected when they visit said websites unknowingly. This opens as a gateway for attackers to infiltrate corporate systems, harvest credentials, and pivot across internal networks. 

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How Watering Hole Attacks Unfold

The attack lifecycle usually progresses as follows:

• Reconnaissance - Attackers gather intelligence on the websites frequented by the target audience, including specialized communities, partner websites, or local news sites.  
• Website Exploitation - Through the use of outdated CMS software and insecure plugins, attackers gain access to the target website and insert malicious code such as JS or iframe redirections.  
• Delivery and Exploitation - The visitor’s browser executes the malicious code injected into the page. The code might include a redirection payload which sends the user to an exploit kit that checks the user’s browser, plugins, operating system, and other components for vulnerabilities.  
• Infection and Persistence - The infected system malware such as RATs, keyloggers, or backdoors. These enable lateral and long-term movements within the organisation for espionage.  
• Command and Control (C2) - For further instructions, additional payload delivery, and stolen data retrieval, infected devices connect to servers managed by the attackers.

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Key Features of Watering Hole Attacks  

• Indirect Approach: Instead of going after the main target, attackers focus on sites that the main target trusts.  
• Supply-Chain-Like Impact: An infected industry portal can affect many companies at the same time.  
• Low Profile: It is difficult to identify since the traffic comes from real websites.  
• Advanced Customization: Exploit kits are known to specialize in making custom payloads for specific browsers or OS versions to increase the chance of success.  

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Why Are These Attacks Dangerous?  

Worming hole attacks shift the battlefield to new grounds in cyber warfare on the web. They eliminate the need for firewalls, email shields, and other security measures because they operate on the traffic to and from real, trusted websites. When the attacks work as intended, the following consequences can be expected:  

• Stealing Credentials: Including privileged accounts and VPN credentials.  
• Espionage: Theft of intellectual property, defense blueprints, or government confidential information.  
• Supply Chain Attacks: Resulting in a series of infections among related companies.  
• Zero-Day Exploits: Including automated attacks using zero-day exploits for full damage.

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Incidents of Primary Concern  

The implications of watering hole attacks have been felt in the real world for quite some time. An example from 2019 reveals this, where a known VoIP firm’s site was compromised and used to spread data-stealing malware to its users. Likewise, in 2014, the Operation Snowman campaign—which seems to have a state-backed origin—attempted to infect users of a U.S. veterans’ portal in order to gain access to visitors from government, defense, and related fields. Rounding up the list, in 2021, cybercriminals attacked regional publications focusing on energy, using the publications to spread malware to company officials and engineers working on critical infrastructure, as well as to steal data from their systems. These attacks show the widespread and dangerous impact of watering hole attacks in the world of cybersecurity.

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Detection Issues  

Due to the following reasons, traditional approaches to security fail to detect watering hole attacks:  

• Use of Authentic Websites: Attacks involving trusted and popular domains evade detection via blacklisting.  
• Encrypted Traffic: Delivering payloads over HTTPS conceals malicious scripts from being inspected at the network level.  
• Fileless Methods: Using in-memory execution is a modern campaign technique, and detection based on signatures is futile.

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Mitigation Strategies

To effectively neutralize the threat of watering hole attacks, an organization should implement a defense-in-depth strategy that incorporates the following elements:

1. Patch Management and Hardening - 

• Conduct routine updates on operating systems, web browsers, and extensions to eliminate exploit opportunities. 
• Either remove or reduce the use of high-risk elements such as Flash and Java, if feasible. 

2. Network Segmentation - Minimize lateral movement by isolating critical systems from the general user network.
3. Behavioral Analytics - Implement Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) tools to oversee unusual behaviors on processes—for example, script execution or dubious outgoing connections. 
4. DNS Filtering and Web Isolation - Implement DNS-layer security to deny access to known malicious domains and use browser isolation for dangerous sites. 
5. Threat Intelligence Integration - Track watering hole threats and campaigns for indicators of compromise (IoCs) on advisories and threat feeds.
6. Multi-Layer Email and Web Security - Use web gateways integrated with dynamic content scanning, heuristic analysis, and sandboxing. 
7. Zero Trust Architecture - Apply least privilege access, require device attestation, and continuous authentication for accessing sensitive resources.

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Incident Response Best Practices 

• Forensic Analysis: Check affected endpoints for any mechanisms set up for persistence and communication with C2 servers. 
• Log Review: Look through proxy, DNS, and firewall logs to detect suspicious traffic. 
• Threat Hunting: Search your environment for known Indicators of Compromise (IoCs) related to recent watering hole attacks. 
• User Awareness Training: Help employees understand the dangers related to visiting external industry websites and promote safe browsing practices. 

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The Immediate Need for Action

The adoption of cloud computing and remote working models has significantly increased the attack surface for watering hole attacks. Trust and healthcare sectors are increasingly targeted by nation-state groups and cybercrime gangs using this technique. Not taking action may lead to data leaks, legal fines, and break-ins through the supply chain, which damage the trustworthiness and operational capacity of the enterprise.

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Conclusion  

Watering hole attacks demonstrate how phishing attacks evolve from a broad attack to a very specific, trust-based attack. Protecting against these advanced attacks requires the zero-trust mindset, adaptive defenses, and continuous monitoring, which is multicentral security. Advanced response measures, proactive threat intelligence, and detection technologies integration enable organizations to turn this silent threat from a lurking predator to a manageable risk.

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References

• https://www.fortinet.com/resources/cyberglossary/watering-hole-attack
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watering_hole_attack
• https://www.proofpoint.com/us/threat-reference/watering-hole
• https://www.techtarget.com/searchsecurity/definition/watering-hole-attack

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