Cyber Security Challenges In India

Cyber security issues in India have added a new variety of challenges for India. Till now cyber security in India and its challenges and problems are well known and India has also realised that urgent attention in this direction is needed. For instance, the cyber security challenges for the smart grids in India were realised during the recent power outrage in India.

This is just the beginning of the cyber security journey of India. Critical infrastructure protection in India is not undertaken in the manner required. Even we have no critical ICT infrastructure protection policy of India  that can provide norms and best practices for critical infrastructure protection in India.

On top of it, stealth and sophisticated malware like Stuxnet, Flame, Shamoon and Duqu have already proved that critical infrastructures around the world like power grids, nuclear facilities, satellites, defense networks, governmental informatics infrastructures, etc are vulnerable to both known and unknown cyber attacks.

There are many concepts that were not even acknowledged by India a few years back. For instance, concepts like cyber warfare against India and its defenses, cyber terrorism against India and its defences and solutions, cyber security in India and its challenges and problems, cyber espionage against India and its challenges, solutions and defences, etc were never considered to be a threat by India.

Now it is well known that these concepts are not just theoretical concepts but actual and potential threats to any nation. India has also realised this bitter truth that also without much loss of crucial information and data.

Of course, strategic computers at Indian defence forces, governmental departments, etc were successfully breached and compromised. In many cases, India was not even aware of such compromise and there may be incidences where such compromise are still present and are undetected.

As on date we have neither a strong cyber law nor effective cyber security capabilities in India. Further, if we analyse the cyber security reflections the trend is really troublesome. The cyber law, cyber crimes and cyber security trends by Perry4Law and Perry4Law Techno Legal Base (PTLB) have shown the loopholes of Indian cyber security capabilities.

We at Perry4Law and PTLB strongly recommend that Indian government must stress really hard upon developing both defensive and offensive cyber security capabilities. The sooner it is done the better it would be for the national security of India in general and cyber security of India in particular.

Cyber Espionage Against India And Its Challenges, Solutions And Defences

If we analyse the Cyber Attacks Trends against India for the past few years it would be apparent that the frequency and sophistication of these Cyber Attacks has increased and developed a lot. The Cyber Attack by the Chinese Crackers at the computers in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) of India in December 2009 is one such example.

In this incidence, the Crackers targeted India's key National Security Peoples including National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan, Cabinet Secretary K.M. Chandrashekhar, PM's Special Envoy Shyam Saran and Deputy National Security Advisor Shekhar Dutt. The four and up to 26 others were specifically targeted in the Cracking exercise that was very successful.

The Cyber Espionage attack was very sophisticated and well executed. The E-Mail was routed through multiple proxy servers to defeat the Traceability. The Cracking Spyware was embedded in a PDF document to get it executed once opened. The Trojan Malware was programmed to carry out multiple functions, including downloading malicious files, accessing E-Mails and passwords and also accessing the desktop from a remote location.

In another incidence, it was reported that the Chinese Intelligence Agencies may have planted Malware in Computers and broken into the Headquarters of 33 Corps, the Army formation looking after most of the North-Eastern border with China. The Cyber Intrusion also planted a Trojan Horse to give Chinese Agencies remote access to the computer network at the 33 Corps Headquarters in Sukhna, near Siliguri, West Bengal.

 

In another incidence, many Computers of the Home Ministry were found infected with Malware. Reacting sharply, but wrongly, to these developments, the Union Home Ministry decided to ban the use of Internet by the lower rank staff up to section officers.

This was a “Defective Strategy” as banning use of Internet or Technology rather then developing Cyber Security Capabilities in India can never be a good choice. It is better to “Train” the staff rather than prohibiting them from using Internet.

The Home Ministry was barking the wrong tree as Security through Obscurity and Non-Access in itself and without further steps to develop Cyber Skills and Capabilities is a bad choice. The Government of India must concentrate upon “Capacity Development” of not only its employees but also its core Departments and Offices in order to tackle Cyber Espionage Attacks. Thus, Cyber Security Capabilities of India must be strengthened as soon as possible.

Cyber Espionage may be committed by an Insider or an outsider with the help of Internet and Computer. The problem is that Cyber Espionage is inexpensive and relatively easy to commit and it is also difficult to prove with absolute certainty. This is more so regarding “Authorship Attribution” that can pin point the liability to a Nation/Individual/Organisation.

Authorship Attribution is an important aspect of “Determining the Culpability” of an offender where the means to commit the offence are common and accessible to many people simultaneously. Data Mining and Profiling of the accused to “Attribute Culpability” to him/her alone is an emerging area of Cyber Crime Investigation but it is still far from perfect.

Having an effective Cyber Security Mechanism at place can help in prevention of majority of Cyber Espionage issues, but there is no full proof method of preventing Cyber Espionage. With adequate resources and time, a Cracker can penetrate and exploit the intended target.

The Cyber Security Policy of India must be urgently formulated that must incorporate provisions regarding Cyber Warfare, Cyber Terrorism, Critical Infrastructure Protection, Cyber Espionage, etc. In the ultimate analysis, enhancing Cyber Security of India is the ultimate solution.

Cyber Security In India: Its Challenges And Problems

Cyber Security in India is gaining importance day by day. However, the same is not a result of any Cyber Security Policy of India but due to the problems that India is facing. India has for long ignored Cyber Security aspect and this has caused tremendous loss to it. Now Cyber Security Problems of India have reached a stage where if immediate action is not taken, it may cause irreversible and irreparable loss to India.

The chief problem that India is facing from cyber front pertains to threats emanating form Cyber Warfare field. Cyber Warfare against India and its Defences is one area that requires special attention of our Policy Makers. We need a dedicated work force to take care of this sensitive and crucial field.

Another concern that is repeatedly conveyed to Indian Government is that Critical Infrastructure Protection in India is needed. As on date India is not vulnerable to Cyber Attacks targeting Critical Infrastructure of India. However, this is not because India has advance Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) Mechanism at place but because India has outdated and ancient Infrastructure at place. The moment modern and ICT enabled Infrastructure would be used by India to support its Critical Infrastructure, the problems of India would increase manifolds.

For instance, the recent power failure of India has raised concerns not only in India but also World wide. Although the power outrage was claimed to be caused due to Defective Power Infrastructure, yet even in modern Power Infrastructure such a situation can occur. Cyber Security of automated Power Grids of India has not been contemplated by Indian Government so far.

Sophisticated Malware like Stuxnet and Duqu have already proved that Critical Infrastructures around the World like Power Grids, Nuclear Facilities, Satellites, Defense Networks, Governmental Informatics Infrastructures, etc are vulnerable to diverse range of Cyber Attacks. The truth is that Cyber Attacks are affecting Indian Critical Infrastructure and we are not even aware of the same.

Another area that must be on “Priority List” of Indian Government pertains to Cyber Terrorism. Cyber Terrorism against India and its Defences and Solutions has not been developed by India so far. This must be done now to prevent any further loss due to activities of Cyber Terrorists against India.

We must develop Cyber Security Capabilities of India as soon as possible. Further, we must also keep in mind the Importance of Cyber Forensics for India. Keeping this in mind, development of suitable Cyber Forensic Investigation Solutions in India are needed to Prevent and Defend various types of Cyber Attacks.

The list is endless and this article is not intended to cover all the aspects of Cyber security Problems of India. However, the top three Cyber Security Problems of India have been discussed by me. I would discuss more in this regard in my subsequent articles.

Cyber Terrorism Against India And Its Defences And Solutions

Cyber terrorism in India is not a new concept. However, for long concepts like cyber warfare, cyber terrorism, etc were not taken seriously by Indian government. Naturally, cyber security in India also could not flourish. The cyber security capabilities of India also could not develop in such circumstances.

Techno legal experts of India have been warning against growing incidences of cyber attacks, cyber crimes, cyber espionages, etc against India. Further, the fact that critical infrastructure protection in India is needed has also been reiterated from time to time.

Sophisticated malware like Stuxnet and Duqu have already proved that critical infrastructures around the world like power grids, nuclear facilities, satellites, defense networks, governmental informatics infrastructures, etc are vulnerable to diverse range of cyber attacks. The truth is that cyber attacks are affecting Indian critical infrastructure and we are not even aware of the same.

The cyber law, cyber crimes and cyber security trends by Perry4Law and Perry4Law Techno Legal Base (PTLB) have shown the loopholes of Indian cyber security capabilities. It is high time to plug in these loopholes and deficiencies of Indian cyber security capabilities.

Menaces like cyber terrorism and cyber warfare cannot be effectively tackled till we have both offensive and defensive cyber security capabilities. Further, cyber crisis management plan of India must be urgently formulated and effectively implemented so that cyber terrorism can be prevented in India.  

These anti cyber terrorism solutions must be implemented by India as soon as possible. Cyber security skills development in India must also be ensured so that we have a skilled cyber security workforce in India.

Critical Infrastructure Protection In India Is Needed

Critical Infrastructure is backbone of any Nation and if they are targeted then loss of tremendous nature can occur. It is also not necessary that critical infrastructure is attacked through physical presence at the place of critical infrastructure.

These days’ critical infrastructures are managed by information and communication technology (ICT). For instance, the supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems are the new cyber attack battlefield for cyber criminals and rouge nations. In these circumstances, protection of critical infrastructure of India is of utmost importance.

Critical infrastructure protection (CIP) in India is an integral part of cyber security of India and the same must be a part of cyber security policy of India as well. Similarly, critical ICT infrastructure protection in India is also urgently required.

Malware like Stuxnet and Duqu have already proved that critical infrastructures like power grids, nuclear facilities, satellites, defense networks, governmental informatics infrastructures, etc are vulnerable to sophisticated cyber attacks. The truth is that cyber attacks are affecting Indian critical infrastructure.

We have no dedicated and implementable critical ICT infrastructure protection policy of India. Even we have no implementable cyber crisis management plan of India as on date. Although constitution of a national critical information infrastructure protection centre (NCIPC) of India has been suggested yet its constitution may still take decades. Till then the critical infrastructure protection (CIP) and homeland security (HS) of India would remain in doldrums.

It is high time to consider the cyber security reflections and work towards strengthening of cyber security of India. Further, issues of cyber warfare against India and its defenses must also be considered as cyber warfare against India is no more a fiction but a reality. Perry4Law and Perry4Law Techno Legal Base (PTLB) hope that Indian government would consider these recommendations as soon as possible and act accordingly.