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Cyber Article

cyber report

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Anamiya Bhattacharya
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60 views1 page

Cyber Article

cyber report

Uploaded by

Anamiya Bhattacharya
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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cyberspace DATA SECURITY

Cyber terrorism:

counter-measures
Om
in a cyber cell would be computer and law graduates. The writer in one of the seminars said, we would prefer having this combination since we need someone who has expertise in both computer applications as well as law since both are interlinked here in this case. New batches of these graduates have already arrived and they are being sent to several training programmes. Last year the Ministry of Finance upgraded its infrastructure to prevent cyber strikes. They have introduced a two token system, which mandates that a person carry with him a normal password and also a token that generates pin codes in real time. While logging-in the person will have to apply both. In sensitive areas like defence, the use of personal laptops should be banned and very few systems should be connected to both internet and intranet. Cyber security cant be tackled in isolation by any nation. It requires joint effort with other technologically capable nations. However, India is not a signatory to the 45-nation international convention on cyber crimes. Moreover, India still awaits a legal framework on cyber attacks. National Cyber Security of India, is committed to secure the nations valuable data from cyber threats, prevent hacking and cyber terrorism.

possible form of attacks to our critical cyber infrastructure. The immediate threat to India is from our neighbouring countries, whose main objective will be to destabilise our economy by launching attacks on our banking and nancial network, similarly essential commodity related network and satellite technologies.

It sounds scary no ma er how one frames the issue. Clearly there is need to accelerate the requisite counter-measures suggested by those who know the full dimension of the problem. The tragedy could well be that the demands of Informa on Technology could carry within itself the seeds of insecurity.

Large loophole
There are intelligence reports which suggest the easiest way to attack India is through cyber network. Although it is cost intensive but will spare them of risking manpower and impact of such an attack will be immense on national economy and infrastructure. Different intelligence agencies have come to similar conclusion of possible acts of cyber vandalism, destruction of essential commodityrelated sites and phishing. There is also a possibility of terrorist groups inltrating our cyberspace and then sending virus to enemy nation, to destabilise their network leading to a cyber war between the nations.

will be taken over. Now this is a dangerous scenario. It is going to create panic and if it succeeds completely it is going to cause immense destruction and will take days to restore services. Although terrorist attacks are going to be lethal yet the worst will be when an enemy nation attacks our network through Distributed Denial of Services attacks. In this the bandwidth of a targeted system is ooded, which keeps multiplying and ends in a bot-net. Indias cyberspace has been attacked in the past but those have not been of such large scale. Most of the attacks have been targeted towards the telecom sector. Our telecom infrastructure is strong enough to survive such attacks, however, to maintain this status the systems must be constantly upgraded.

Counter-measures
Now the question arises, what measures India needs to take to counter cyber terrorism? The response needs to be a combined effort of all the security and intelligence agencies with support from communication network companies. There is need to improve the cyber crime police stations. The process in this regard has begun and this writer is part of the team which is overlooking this. Engineers from reputed IT rms have been hired to assist in this, but there is need to recruit full time professionals. National Cyber Security of India has suggested that the latest batch of recruits

ndia has been ghting terrorists for last two decades. During this time numerous forms of terrorism emerged, latest being cyber terrorism. This high-tech form can cause immense damage to most critical infrastructures, without ring a single bullet. Our intelligence agencies have been warning about it. Recent bomb blasts had their nger prints. Now the question arises how well have we geared up for this new and fast emerging threat? We at National Cyber Security of India keep asking this of ourselves.

Unprepared
Our preparation to counter cyber threats is far from satisfactory. A survey of the cyber crime cells in different institutions across India paints not so bright a picture, even after using the best technology available. There is an urgent need to spread awareness across the intelligence and policing community through workshops and seminars. Cyber crime cells in India began with the purpose of checking crime related with spams and sleaze mails. But the status today has got more complicated, with cases reported being more technical. Phishing,

another form of mail related nuisance is also being reported extensively. The detection rate of these spammers is not very high, something to be worried about. Around one out of four cases get solved, but the rate of conviction is still miserable.

New techniques
Cyber cells need to keep upgrading and deploying new tactics to counter cyber hacks. Cyber crime is one domain where there cant be enough policing. We are good as long as we are successful in preventing attack, or solving one. It is time we educate our people and concerned agencies about the

Three-stage attack
Cyber war on India is going to be fought in three stages. First the enemy would bring down the control systems of defense installations, Parliament, railways and airports. Second, they would attack nancial services such as banks and stock markets. Finally, ESCOMs and other utilities, services

So be safe online!
Om is founder and promoter of National Cyber Security of India New Delhi. Co-contributor - Vivek Parmar (core member of National Cyber Security of India).

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April 2010

DEFENCE AND SECURITY ALERT

April 2010

DEFENCE AND SECURITY ALERT

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