#FactCheck - "Viral Video Misleadingly Claims Surrender to Indian Army, Actually Shows Bangladesh Army”

A war in the twenty-first century does not start when the first bullet or missile is fired. It begins much earlier, covertly, and without any official announcement. Cyberspace is this new battlefield. States now use a variety of ransomware, malicious codes, and disinformation campaigns to undermine their enemies' capabilities before launching an offensive. These pre-conflict cyber operations are now the primary frontline of contemporary hybrid warfare, which is changing how conflicts are fought and conducted.

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The Birth of a Digital Battlefield

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Hybrid Warfare is a blend of conventional military force with nonmilitary tactics like economic coercion, disinformation, and cyberattacks that have evolved rapidly in recent decades. Hybrid methods of warfare are nothing new, as the scale and sophistication of cyber operations in modern conflicts are unprecedented. Russia’s actions in Ukraine demonstrated the capability of digital tools to paralyse the critical systems before its heavy munitions could be deployed for combat operations. Within days of the 2022 invasions, Ukraine faced massive Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks targeting banks, government websites, and energy infrastructures. The digital frontlines have softened the physical defences long before the conventional warfare began. 

According to the FP Analytics’ “Digital Front Lines” Project, cyber operations are no longer an auxiliary tactic but a core component of hybrid warfare, blurring the boundary between peace and war. They enable states to exert pressure, gather intelligence, and disrupt adversaries, often without being attributed or held accountable. 

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Cyber Operations: The modern Prelude to War

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The use of digital technologies for surveillance, information network disruption, or critical infrastructure destruction is known as cyber operations. They are especially useful instruments for pre-conflict manipulation because of their ambiguity and stealth. Cyberattacks, in contrast to conventional military strikes, can accomplish strategic goals while providing plausible deniability.
Coordinated cyberattacks that spread misinformation and damaged public confidence disrupted government communication systems prior to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. These sorts of incidents highlight the integrated nature of cyber and kinetic operations, where digital assaults often serve as the initial phases of modern wars.

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The Expanding Spectrum of Actors or Threat 

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Cyberspace has democratized warfare, which once required an army, can now be initiated by a handful of skilled programmers with access to the right tools. The cyber landscape of the present times features a wide spectrum of threat actors, which can be understood as; 

• State actors like intelligence or military agencies conduct cyber operations as part of official foreign policy. 
• Cybercriminals pursue financial gains, often overlapping with political motives. 
• Terrorist groups use cyberspace to spread propaganda for coordinated attacks. 
• Cyber mercenaries being hired by both the state and nonstate clients can blur the ethical and legal boundaries. 

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This diversity can complicate the attribution by determining that anyone who is actively working behind conducting cyberattacks can be notoriously difficult, allowing the states to hide behind “plausible deniability.” This ‘Gray Zone’ of conflict below the threshold of a declared war, above mere diplomacy, has become the preferred arena for modern power struggles. 

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Civilian Involvement and Ethical Dilemmas

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Unlike traditional warfare, where the cyber domain entangles civilians as both participants and targets. Much of the nation’s critical infrastructure, which includes energy grids, hospitals, transportation, and communication systems, is owned and operated by private entities. As a result, the civilian industries and experts are becoming central to both cyber defence and offence. 

During the Russia–Ukraine War, the volunteer hackers from around the world were many of whom are being coordinated through the app Telegram, which is termed as ‘IT Army of Ukraine’, are known for conducting digital strikes on Russian networks. Conversely, the Russia-affiliated hacker groups like Conti had vowed to retaliate against any nations that supported Ukraine. 

This civilian participation raises profound legal and moral questions, over a private company’s role in defending their networks of becoming a combatant, or the impact of retaliatory cyberattacks on civilian infrastructure war crimes. International law has yet to provide a clear answer, which can leave dangerous gaps in the governance to counter cybercrimes. 

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Susceptibility of Contemporary Society to Cyber Warfare

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Cyberwarfare can impact an entire global digital ecosystem due to its interconnectedness. Power grids, hospitals, air traffic systems, and even automation devices can be compromised. While the NotPetya ransomware, which was cloaked as ransomware, caused billions of losses and caused worldwide economic damage from shipping companies to pharmaceutical companies, the WannaCry ransomware attacks in 2017 paralysed hospitals throughout the UK's National Health Service.

When taken as a whole, these incidents have also shown that cyberattacks are no longer limited to espionage situations and can have real-world consequences comparable to those of conventional warfare. The consequences of cyberattacks could increase dramatically as our dependence on technology increases. Because these effects are profoundly psychological in nature and seek to sow fear, mistrust, and social disintegration, they are not merely technical or economic in nature.

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The Future: Permanent Cyber Frontlines

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Technological developments have made cyberspace a permanent theatre of conflict, joining the land, sea, air, and space. Countries are currently making significant investments in cyber capabilities for deterrence as well as defence. According to security experts like Eriksson and Giacomello, societies are now inherently fragile due to our increasing reliance on information technologies.

Cyber operations in this context are about strategic dominance in a globalised world, not just digital espionage. Who controls the networks and algorithms that run contemporary civilisation will determine the future of war, not just who controls the skies or the seas. As per the new reality, before the drop of the first bomb, a silent war in cyberspace will already be underway.     

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References

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• https://digitalfrontlines.io/2023/05/25/the-evolution-of-cyber-operations-in-armed-conflict/
• https://theses.ubn.ru.nl/server/api/core/bitstreams/9d74149e-fb9a-402f-aa65-a90445ad7603/content
• https://cybersecurityguide.org/resources/cyberwarfare/
• https://re.public.polimi.it/retrieve/e0c31c0b-ce6c-4599-e053-1705fe0aef77/21%20Century%20Cyber%20Warfare.pdf

Disclaimer:

The information is based on claims made by threat actors and does not imply confirmation of the breach, by CyberPeace. CyberPeace includes this detail solely to provide factual transparency and does not condone any unlawful activities. This information is shared only for research purposes and to spread awareness. CyberPeace encourages individuals and organizations to adopt proactive cybersecurity measures to protect against potential threats.

🚨 Data Breach Alert ⚠️: 

Recently The Research Wing of CyberPeace and Autobot Infosec have come across a claim on a threat actor’s dark web website alleging a data breach involving 637k+ records from Federal Bank. According to the threat actor’s claim, the data allegedly includes sensitive details such as-

• 🧑‍Customer Name
• 🆔Customer ID
• 🏠 Customer Address
• 🎂 Date of Birth
• 🔢 Age
• 🚻 Gender
• 📞Mobile Number
• 🪪 PAN Number
• 🚘 Driving License Number
• 🛂 Passport Number
• 🔑 UID Number
• 🗳️ Voter ID Information

The alleged data was initially discovered on a dark web website, where the threat actors allegedly claimed to be offering the breached information for sale. Following their announcement of the breach, a portion of the data was reportedly published on December 27, 2024. A few days later, the full dataset was allegedly released on the same forum.

About the Threat Actor Group:

Bashe, a ransomware group that emerged in 2024, is claimed to have evolved from the LockBit ransomware group, previously operating under the names APT73 and Eraleig. The group employs data encryption combined with extortion tactics, threatening to release sensitive information if ransom demands are unmet. Their operations primarily target critical industries, including technology, healthcare, and finance, demonstrating a strategic focus on high-value sectors.

Breakdown of the Alleged Post by the Threat Actor:

• Target: Allegedly involves Customer’s Data of Federal Bank.
• Data Volume: Claimed breach includes 637,894 records.
• Data Fields: Threat actor claims the data contains sensitive information, including Customer name, Customer ID, Date of Birth, PAN Number, Age, Gender, Father Name, Spouse Name, Driving Licence, Passport Number, UID Number, Voter ID, District, Zip Code, Home Address, Mailing Address, State etc.

Analysis:

The analysis of the alleged data breach highlights the states purportedly most impacted, along with insights into the affected age groups, gender distribution, and other key insights associated with the compromised data. This evaluation aims to provide a clearer understanding of the claimed breach's scope and its potential demographic and geographic impact.

Top States Impacted: 

As per the alleged breached data, Tamil Nadu has the highest number of affected customers, accounting for a significant 34.49% of the total breach. Karnataka follows closely with 26.89%, indicating a substantial number of individuals affected in the state. In contrast states such as Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi, and Rajasthan report minimal impact, with each state having less than 1% of affected customers. Gujarat records 3.70% of the breach, with a sharp drop in affected numbers from other states, highlighting a significant disparity in the extent of the breach across regions.

Impacted Age Range Statistics:

The alleged data breach has predominantly impacted customers in the 31-40 years age group, which constitutes the largest segment at 35.80% of the affected individuals. Following this, the 21-30 years age group also shows significant impact, comprising 27.72% of those affected. The 41-50 years age group accounts for 20.55% of the impacted population, while individuals aged 50 and above represent 12.68%. In contrast, the 0-20 years age group is the least affected, with only 3.24% of customers falling into this category.

Gender Wise Statistics:

The alleged data breach has predominantly impacted male customers, who constitute the majority at 74.05% of the affected individuals. Female customers account for 23.18%, while a smaller segment, categorized as "Others," constitutes 2.77%.

The alleged dataset from the threat actors indicated that a significant portion of customers' personal identification data was compromised. This includes sensitive information such as driving licenses, passport numbers, UID numbers, voter IDs, and PAN numbers.

Significance of the Allegations:

Though the claims have not been independently verified at our end it underscores the rising risks of cyberattacks and data breaches, especially in the financial and banking sectors. If true, the exposure of such sensitive information could lead to financial fraud, identity theft, and severe reputational damage for individuals and organizations alike.

CyberPeace Advisory:

CyberPeace emphasizes the importance of vigilance and proactive measures to address cybersecurity risks:

• Monitor Your Accounts: Keep a close eye on financial and email accounts for any suspicious activity.
• Update Passwords: Change your passwords immediately and enable Multi Factor Authentication(MFA) wherever possible.
• Beware of Phishing Attacks: Threat actors may exploit the leaked data to craft targeted phishing scams. Do not click on unsolicited links or share sensitive details over email or phone.
• For Organizations: Strengthen data protection mechanisms, regularly audit security infrastructure, and respond swiftly to emerging threats.
• Report: For more assistance or to report cyber incidents, visit https://cybercrime.gov.in or contact our helpline team at helpline@cyberpeace.net.

We advise affected parties and the broader public to stay alert and take necessary precautions. CyberPeace remains committed to raising awareness about cybersecurity threats and advocating for better protection mechanisms. We urge all stakeholders to investigate the claims and ensure appropriate steps are taken to protect the impacted data, if the breach is confirmed. Our Research Wing is actively observing the situation and we aim to collaborate with the stakeholders and relevant agencies to mitigate the impact.

Stay Vigilant! Stay CyberPeaceful.

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Executive Summary:

Footage of the Afghanistan cricket team singing ‘Vande Mataram’ after India’s triumph in ICC T20 WC 2024 exposed online.  The CyberPeace Research team carried out a thorough research to uncover the truth about the viral video. The original clip was posted on X platform by Afghan cricketer Mohammad Nabi on October 23, 2023 where the Afghan players posted the video chanting  ‘Allah-hu Akbar’ after winning the ODIs in the World Cup against Pakistan. This debunks the assertion made in the viral video about the people chanting Vande Mataram.

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Claims:

Afghan cricket players chanted "Vande Mataram" to express support for India after India’s victory over Australia in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.

Fact Check:

Upon receiving the posts, we analyzed the video and found some inconsistency in the video such as the lip sync of the video. 

We checked the video in an AI audio detection tool named “True Media”, and the detection tool found the audio to be 95% AI-generated which made us more suspicious of the authenticity of the video.

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For further verification, we then divided the video into keyframes. We reverse-searched one of the frames of the video to find any credible sources. We then found the X account of Afghan cricketer Mohammad Nabi, where  he uploaded the same video in his account with a caption, “Congratulations! Our team emerged triumphant n an epic battle against ending a long-awaited victory drought. It was a true test of skills & teamwork. All showcased thr immense tlnt & unwavering dedication. Let's celebrate ds 2gether n d glory of our great team & people” on 23 Oct, 2023.

We found that the audio is different from the viral video, where we can hear Afghan players chanting “Allah hu Akbar” in their victory against Pakistan. The Afghan players were not chanting Vande Mataram after India’s victory over Australia in T20 World Cup 2014.

Hence, upon lack of credible sources and detection of AI voice alteration, the claim made in the viral posts is fake and doesn’t represent the actual context. We have previously debunked such AI voice alteration videos. Netizens must be careful before believing misleading information.

Conclusion:

The viral video claiming that Afghan cricket players chanted "Vande Mataram" in support of India is false. The video was altered from the original video by using audio manipulation.  The original video of Afghanistan players celebrating victory over Pakistan by chanting "Allah-hu Akbar" was posted in the official Instagram account of Mohammad Nabi, an Afghan cricketer. Thus the information is fake and misleading.

• Claim: Afghan cricket players chanted "Vande Mataram" to express support for India after the victory over Australia in the ICC T20 World Cup 2024.
• Claimed on: YouTube
• Fact Check: Fake & Misleading

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