Fake PM email creates flutter in Pakistan

Officials in the Pakistani Prime Minister's office went into a tizzy after unidentified persons attempted to circulate an email purportedly containing the premier's message for Defence Day, exposing the lack of cyber security in the office's media arm.

An email titled "Prime Minister's Message on Defence Day" was sent to scribes from the ID "pmmediaofficer@gmail.com", which is very similar to one of the IDs used by the premier's media arm for communications with journalists.

After learning of the development, the Prime Minister's Office issued a statement yesterday that asked journalists to ignore the email from the fake ID.

"It has come to our notice that a message of the Prime Minister on Defence Day has been circulated on a fake ID 'pmmediaofficer@gmail.com'. You are requested to ignore the message as it has not been issued by this office," the statement said.

The statement also listed three Gmail IDs that are used by the Prime Minister's Office for communications with the media.

Referring to the fake email, Prime Minister's Office spokesman Shafqat Jalil told the Dawn, "It contained no text, just the title 'Prime Minister's Message on Defence Day'."

Investigations revealed that the sender created a fake identity simply by adding the letter "r" to one of the email IDs used by the premier's office.

"We detected the fake email and immediately informed the media as per the standard operating procedure that Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has not issued any message relating to Defence Day," Jalil said.

Defence Day is observed on September 6.

The premier's office is not alone in using IDs from email providers like Gmail, Hotmail and Yahoo.

Most Pakistani government departments use such email Ids instead of routing their communications through a secure system.

Cyber security experts have warned against the use of such IDs by government departments even in the past.

... contd.

ALSO READ

China calls US the "real hacking empire" after Pentagon report

At least 18 killed in twin blasts targeting election campaigns

Scented underpants for men, a 'Made in France' special

Imran Khan injured after fall from forklift at rally, rushed to Lahore hospital