Page 5 - Cyber Security

Law enforcement agencies infiltrate, disrupt ransomware group LockBit

Law-enforcement agencies have infiltrated and disrupted Lockbit, a prolific ransomware syndicate behind cyberattacks around the world, Britain's National Crime Agency said Tuesday. The agency said it led an international operation targeting LockBit, which provides ransomware as a service to so-called affiliates who infect victim networks with the computer-crippling malware and negotiate ransoms. The group has been linked to thousands of attacks since 2019. Hours before the announcement, the front page of LockBit's site was replaced with the words this site is now under control of law enforcement, alongside the flags of the UK, the US and several other nations. The message said the website was under the control of the UK's National Crime Agency working in close cooperation with the FBI and the international law enforcement task force, Operation Cronos." It says it is an ongoing and developing operation that also involves agencies from Germany, France, Japan, Australia, New Zealand a

UN experts investigate 58 suspected N Korean cyberattacks valued at $3 bn

UN experts say they are investigating 58 suspected North Korean cyberattacks between 2017 and 2023 valued at approximately USD 3 billion, with the money reportedly being used to help fund its development of weapons of mass destruction. And the high volume of cyberattacks by North Korean hacking groups who report to the Reconnaissance General Bureau, North Korea's primary foreign intelligence organization, is reportedly continuing, the panel of experts said in the executive summary of a new report to the UN Security Council obtained Friday by The Associated Press. The report covering the period from July 2023 to January 2024 and reflecting contributions from unidentified UN member nations and other sources, was sent to the 15-member council as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has raised tensions in the region. He is threatening to annihilate South Korea if provoked and escalating weapons demonstrations. In response, the United States, South Korea and Japan have strengthened their ...

Govt blocks 1.4 lakh mobile numbers linked to digital financial frauds

To control digital frauds, the government has blocked 1.4 lakh mobile numbers so far that were involved in financial frauds, according to an official release. Financial Services Secretary Vivek Joshi on Friday chaired a meeting on cyber security in the financial services sector in which various issues including onboarding of banks and financial institutions on the Citizen Financial Cyber Fraud Reporting and Management System (CFCFRMS) platform through API integration were discussed. Integration of CFCFRMS platform with the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) to centralise the platform that will enable effective collaboration between Police, Banks, and Financial Institutions, allowing for real-time monitoring and prevention of fraudulent activities was deliberated, an official release said. The banks and financial institutions are required to phase out the use of regular 10-digit numbers and use specific number series such as '140xxx' for commercial or promotional activities

TCS to enhance Enento Group's IT infrastructure, digital workplace

As a part of the partnership, TCS will help Enento simplify its operating model and harmonise its technology stack by leveraging TCS' technology solutions

'Data protection seal' to vet platforms for privacy benchmarking: DSCI

Organisations who have volunteered under the project are undergoing a pilot testing stage

Cyber attack cases on Indian cos rise 15%, 2nd highest in Apac: Report

The number of cyber attack cases in India increased by 15 per cent per week on an average in 2023, trailing only Taiwan in the Asia Pacific region, cyber security firm Check Point said on Monday. Organisations across the globe experienced an average of 1,158 weekly cyber attacks each, which was a 1 per cent increase in the number of incidents compared to that in 2022. "In 2023 India received 2,138 weekly attacks per organisation, which is a 15 per cent surge since 2022. Within APAC, India emerges as the second most targeted nation with 2,138 weekly attacks per organization, trailing only behind Taiwan's 3,050 incidents," Check Point said. Within APAC, India experienced the second highest surge in attacks at 15 per cent, following Korea's 21 per cent increase since 2022, according to the report. "Regionally, APAC led with the highest average number of weekly attacks, with an average of 1,930 attacks per organization, a 3 per cent increase compared to last year, while Africa witnesse

CISCO, NAMTECH enter tie-up to impart training in cybersecurity, AI

Global tech company CISCO has partnered with NAMTECH -- an initiative backed by steel maker AMNS India -- to impart training in areas like cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence (AI) for the manufacturing industry. The agreement?, which was signed at the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2024 in Gandhinagar, aims to build a talent pipeline comprising more than 5,000 engineers and technicians over the next five years. There is a growing demand for skilled professionals in cybersecurity and networking, especially for manufacturing entities looking to accelerate digital transformation towards the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies, New Age Makers Institute of Technology (NAMTECH) said in a statement on Friday. "NAMTECH and Cisco have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to create academic programme focused on developing cybersecurity, networking, and AI experiential learning and training modules for the manufacturing industry," it said. NAMTECH Director General Arun Kumar Pill

Ways in which you can lower your cyber insurance premium?

In today's digital world, losing data because of a security breach can be a big financial loss. Cyber insurance can help cover a lot of such risks and offer your business the right coverage.

US regulators propose new online privacy safeguards for children: Report

The moves would shift the burden of online safety from parents to apps and other digital services

UK's National Grid drops China-based supplier over cyber security fears

The decision came in April after the utility sought advice from the National Cyber Security Centre, a branch of the nation's signals intelligence agency GCHQ, a report said

US, India, Taiwan representatives collaborate on Cybersecurity workshop

India's former National Cyber Security Coordinator Lt. Gen. Rajesh Pant said that with over 800 million internet users and 1.2 billion smart phones, cybersecurity is a major part of national security

'Upskill or cross-skill': Cybersecurity skill gap hobbles banking sector

Recently, UCO Bank reported an IMPS (Immediate Payment Service) fraud in which Rs 820 crore was credited to some account holders of the bank without a debit from any other bank

Govt to assist in filing FIRs against social media firms for deepfakes

The government will assist people in filing FIRs against social media platforms in case they are aggrieved by objectionable content like deepfakes that are in violation of IT rules. Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Friday said the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity) will develop a platform on which people can notify the ministry about IT rule violations by social media platforms. Speaking to the media after a meeting with the representatives of social media platforms here, the minister also said that social media platforms have been given seven days time to align their terms of use as per the IT rules. Further, Chandrasekhar said it will be acceptable for the government if social media platforms label content as deepfake instead of taking down the content. The ministry will appoint an officer who will deal with implementation of Rule 7 of IT Rules that were notified in October 2022. According to Chandrasekhar, the move will enable people who are aggrie

Notifications to MPs: Apple team from US likely to meet CERT-In officials

Apple's cyber security executives from the US are expected to meet officials of CERT-In this month regarding the show cause notice issued to the company in the wake of several opposition MPs receiving a warning notification on their iPhones. Last month, several opposition leaders claimed they have received an alert from Apple warning them of "state-sponsored attackers trying to remotely compromise" their iPhones and alleged hacking by the government. CERT-In, which comes under Meity, had issued a show cause notice to Apple in this regard. On Friday, Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology (Meity) Rajeev Chandrasekhar said that Apple has to reply to the notice which needs to be done by their global cyber security team. "They have to come here and answer those questions. Basic issue is ongoing," the minister told reporters. He said that Indian Computer Emergency Response Team or CERT-In has met local representative of Apple but the issue is beyond their capabili

MPs raise concerns over cyber security in the new Parliament building

Parliamentarians on Friday raised concerns over cyber security in the new Parliament building and called upon banks for taking adequate steps to secure the financial assets of public at large. The MPs also stressed on the need to increase cyber security awareness in the country and called for developing a "cyber consciousness index" to guage it. Addresing a meeting of the Committee on Information and Communication Technology Management in the Rajya Sabha in the Parliament House Annexe Building, the members heard top officials of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and the public-sector Punjab National Bank. The committee had met under the chairmanship of AAP member N D Gupta, where the secretary, MeitY gave a presentation to the members on issues of cyber security and the manner in which the ministry and organisations under it are addressing the same. Measures being put in place to enhance cyber security of Member Services and to secure the new building o

Alert | Avoid these apps while using Google Pay

Google Pay has two security steps: unlocking the app and using UPI PIN for transactions. Despite these, suspicious activity may still arise. So what's the way out? Watch the video to know more

Govt constitutes committee to draft safety pledge for e-comm platforms

The government has constituted a committee to draft the safety pledge for e-commerce platforms as it seeks to prevent the sale of unsafe goods to consumers through online marketplaces. The panel, which includes members from major e-commerce platforms, voluntary consumer associations, industry bodies and National Law Universities, will submit its report in two weeks. According to an official statement on Thursday, the Department of Consumer Affairs held a stakeholder consultation on preparation for a 'Safety Pledge' for e-commerce platforms. The exercise is aimed at ensuring the sale of goods which are safe for use by consumers and requires platforms to take appropriate measures to prevent the sale of unsafe goods. The meeting was chaired by Rohit Kumar Singh, Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs and was attended by representatives from industry associations, major e-commerce platforms, voluntary consumer associations and law chairs. "The Department has constituted a committee

Half of Indian IT leaders feel security missing component in data policy

As many as 49 per cent of Indian IT industry leaders feel that security is a missing component in their organisation's data policy, a study by US-based data security firm Rubrik has revealed. As marquee brands continue to reveal the challenges of successful cyber attacks targeting their business data, the report said it has found a "stark reality". It says that globally, about one in every two organisations surveyed suffered a loss of sensitive data during last year. The research was conducted in the US, the UK, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan, Australia, Singapore, and India between June 30 and July 11, 2023. The data includes over 35 exabytes of logical storage secured and more than 24 billion sensitive data records from January 2022 through July 2023. In fact, one of six organisations experienced multiple losses of data in the past 12 months, the report, which was released on Wednesday, said. In the research report, 'The State of Data Security: The Journey to Se

Saudi Arabia's cyber diplomacy

In a deeply polarised arena, the kingdom is carving out its niche in global cybersecurity cooperation

MoRTH proposes uniform cyber security & management system for four-wheelers

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has proposed uniform Cyber Security and Management Systems (CSMS) provisions for certain categories of four-wheelers, passenger and commercial vehicles to protect their functions from cyber threats. MoRTH, in a draft titled 'Approval of vehicles with regards to Cyber Security and Cyber Security management system', said that the application for approval of a vehicle type with regard to cyber security shall be submitted by the vehicle manufacturer or by their duly accredited representative. "Based on the discussion in the 66th meeting of Automotive Industry Standards Committee (AISC) held on 14th July, 2023, the Committee agreed to formulate an Automotive Industry Standard (AIS) for approval of vehicles equipped with Cyber Security and Management Systems (CSMS). "The purpose of this standard is to establish uniform provisions for CSMS fitted to motor vehicles of categories M and N," the draft report said. According to the draft repo