Cyber Incident Victim: Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation
Date:
May 2025
Location:
India
Summary
The Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation’s official website was compromised when a message containing religious overtones and a hacking declaration appeared on the homepage, prompting the IT department to take the site offline and launch an investigation. The corporation’s IT head was alerted, the municipal commissioner was briefed, and technical staff began examining the breach while officials stated that no data loss or system damage had been confirmed. Authorities advised the public to avoid clicking unknown links and to refrain from sharing sensitive information on unverified sites.
| CIA Posture | Motives | Tactics, Techniques & Procedures |
|---|---|---|
| Available to members | 1 motive | 1 technique |
| Threat Actors | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 0 actors | Available to members | Available to members |
Description
On Saturday afternoon, unusual activity was detected on the official website of the Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation around 1:30 pm. A message bearing religious overtones and a hacking declaration appeared prominently on the homepage. Shraddha Baviskar, the head of the corporation’s IT department, was alerted shortly after the anomaly was noticed. She informed Municipal Commissioner Manisha Awhale, who was briefed on the situation. The homepage display prompted immediate concern among the civic body’s staff.
In response, Commissioner Awhale ordered the technical team to take the website offline and to initiate an inquiry into the incident. Ajay Sable, the public relations officer, confirmed that the site had been temporarily shut down and that the technical team was conducting a thorough investigation. He stated that an official update would be issued shortly. At that point, officials had not confirmed any data breach or system damage resulting from the intrusion. The nature of the message raised alarms about the corporation’s cyber‑security preparedness.
Commissioner Awhale described the episode as a serious cyber incident but noted that the IT team had acted promptly and successfully thwarted the attempt. She urged the public not to believe rumors and to wait for verified updates from the corporation. Officials also advised citizens to remain cautious, avoid clicking on unknown links, and refrain from sharing sensitive information on unverified websites. The corporation indicated that it remained fully alert on cybersecurity measures following the event.