Pakistani news channels hacked, anti-army messages aired

Several of Pakistan’s most-watched news channels experienced a significant security breach on Sunday evening, March 1, 2026. Viewers were confused as regular programming on channels including Geo News, ARY News, and Samaa TV was interrupted by unauthorized messages, HackRead reports.

The disruptions occurred during high-traffic evening news bulletins, affecting satellite beams and live feeds. Hackers displayed text messages targeting the Pakistan Armed Forces, urging citizens to oppose the military and accusing it of controlling and “destroying” the country. While initial reports suggested an Afghan hacker might be involved with ARY News, the scale of the breach indicated a more coordinated effort. Geo News reported fighting hacking attempts for 24 hours before the intruders gained control, emphasizing that the aired messages were not affiliated with the channel.

The attack also reportedly affected websites in 19 countries through unauthorized Google advertisement campaigns. In response, Pakistan Cyber Force allegedly launched retaliatory cyberattacks, including DDoS attacks, against Indian channels and websites.

Source: HackRead