Islamabad, May 14, 2022 (PPI-OT):Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has taken a very strong exception to the above captioned news item published in Business Recorder on 12th May, 2022 which is misleading in its content and malicious in intent.
FBR has clarified that the National Telecom and Information Technology Security Board (NTISB) as well as other agencies issue routine cyber security threat advisories, alerting the government departments about possible risks to their IT systems. The advisory referred to in the news item in the above referred issued on 30th April, 2022 by NTISB was addressed to all government departments including FBR, so the captioned title gives a misleading impression that only FBR is under risk of cyber-attack.
It is further clarified that whenever such advisories are received, the same are circulated within FBR to create awareness and to further educate the users about cyber-security and preventive measures that each user needs to take to avoid any issues.
FBR further reiterates that the organization is fully cognizant of the prevailing cyber threats environment, and has been regularly upgrading its cyber-defences. It is very clear that email-borne threats, known as “phishing”, are one of the major threat vectors globally and no organization in the world is immune to such malicious emails which are disguised to look as harmless. Furthermore, recognizing this global threat of malicious emails, FBR has already procured and implemented a top-rated Email Gateway Security Solution in order to protect itself from possible email-borne attacks.
In addition, FBR has procured many other top-ranked international cyber-security software and solutions to protect its systems from all kinds of cyber threats. It has also engaged a full-time Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) and established a Security Operations Centre SOC) wherein over 25 resident engineers monitor the threat/risk environment round-the-clock.
Keeping the above in view, it is further reiterated that contrary to the misleading captioned news item, FBR is not under immediate cyber-attack at the moment. The organization has implemented all possible defense measures to avert such threats.
For more information, contact:
Second Secretary (Public Relations)
Federal Board of Revenue (FBR)
FATE Wing, Federal Board of Revenue,
Constitution Avenue, Sector G-5,
Islamabad, Pakistan
Phone: +92-51-9217267
Fax: +92-51-9208456
Email: [email protected], [email protected]
Website: https://www.fbr.gov.pk/