Computer Systems Of DRDO And Security Officials Breached And Sensitive Files Leaked

Indian critical infrastructures and sensitive computer systems are regularly targeted by crackers. In many cases they are also successfully compromised and in many cases their compromise is also not known for a considerable period of time.

This has happened in the past and it would happen in the future as well. Although there is no absolute mechanism to ensure their security yet we must develop offensive and defensive cyber security capabilities of India.

There are many glaring cyber security problems of India that must be addressed on a priority basis. We must formulate the cyber security policy of India as soon as possible. Similarly, we must also ensure cyber security skills and capabilities development in India. In short, Indian cyber security problems, issues and challenges management must be properly appreciated and adequately taken care of.

In a recent media report, it has been alleged that a successful Chinese cracking attack has caused one of the biggest security breaches in India. The cyber security breach has compromised systems of hundreds of key DRDO and other security officials. The breach has also resulted in leakage of sensitive files related to the cabinet committee on security (CCS), the highest decision-making body for security issues of the government of India.

The leak was detected in the first week of March as officials from India’s technical intelligence wing, National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO), working with private Indian cyber security experts cracked open a file called “army cyber policy”. The file had been attached to hacked email accounts of senior DRDO officials that quickly spread through the system in a matter of seconds.

As Indian security experts began to track its origin they discovered, for the first time, that all the sensitive files stolen from the infected systems were being uploaded on a server in the Guangdong province of China.

On further and detailed probe of the breach, it was discovered that thousands of top secret CCS files, and other documents related to surface-to-air missile and radar programmes from DRDL, a DRDO laboratory based in Hyderabad, among many other establishments. Even the e-tickets of the scientists who had travelled to Delhi in the last week of February were found on the server.

The intelligence officials also discovered documents of deals struck between DRDO and Bharat Dynamics Ltd, a defence PSU which manufactures strategic missiles and components. Some other recovered files were related to price negotiations with MBDA, a French missile manufacturing company.

At Perry4Law and Perry4Law’s techno Legal Base (PTLB) we believe that this clearly is a cyber security lapse and cyber security due diligence failure on the part of organisations and computers involved. Let us hope that Indian government would learn lessons from this episode and plug in the loopholes existing in the security of these systems.

Source: CECSRDI.