India is rapidly moving towards a digital ecosystem. The number of connected devices is only increasing and the Internet is penetrating the remotest of areas, but have we covered all our bases? There are huge gaps in India’s cyber-security infrastructure. India might be ready for a digital future but is it truly prepared to handle the security risks that tag along?
India Saw 350 Per Cent Rise In Cybercrime In 3 Years
In the past, attacks have been mostly initiated from countries such as the US, China, Brazil, Pakistan.
NEW DELHI: Blame it on systems that are built around technologies with weaker protocols which are inherently more vulnerable, India has witnessed a 350 per cent rise in cyber crime cases from 2011-2014, an Assocham-PwC joint study revealed on Thursday.
In the past, attacks have been mostly initiated from countries such as the US, Turkey, China, Brazil, Pakistan, Algeria, Turkey, Europe and the UAE.
With the growing adoption of internet and smartphone, India has emerged as one of the most favourite countries among cyber criminals, said the study.
“Cyberattacks around the world are occurring at a greater frequency and intensity. Not only individuals but also businesses and governments are being targeted. The profile and motivation of cyber attackers are fast changing”, it highlighted.
“The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has also reported a surge in the number of incidents handled by it, with close to 50,000 security incidents in 2015,” noted the study titled ‘Protecting interconnected systems in the cyber era’.
With an increase in the usage of information and operational technology (OT) and consumer technology (CT) in critical infrastructure, overall effectiveness has increased.
“However, these elements have also become the target of choice for attackers since they recognise the impact of disrupting the routine way of life,” the study noted.
In the US alone, there has been an increase of nearly 50 per cent in reported cyber incidents against its critical infrastructure from 2012 to 2015.
Not only individuals but also businesses and governments are being targeted.
“The profile and motivation of cyber attackers are fast changing. A new breed of cyber criminals has now emerged, whose main aim is not just financial gains but also causing disruption and chaos to businesses in particular and the nation at large,” the paper pointed out.
The regular sharing of cyber security intelligence and insights is essential to improving the resiliency of these systems and processes from emerging cyber risks, the study said.
72 Per Cent Indian Companies Faced Cyber Attack in 2015
The survey report was released in the presence of Mumbai Police Commissioner Ahmed Javed today.
MUMBAI: Incidences of cyber crime in India shot up drastically in 2015, with 72 per cent companies in the country falling prey to online attacks this year, a survey report said.
“Around 72 per cent of Indian companies faced cyber attacks this year alone. 94 per cent respondents indicated that cyber-crime is a major threat faced by organisations, but surprisingly only 41 per cent indicated that it forms part of the board agenda,” the KPMG Cybercrime Survey Report 2015 prepared by KPMG in India, a professional services firm, said.
The survey report was released in the presence of Mumbai Police Commissioner Ahmed Javed today.
83 per cent respondents of the 250+ C-suite executives that participated in the survey indicated that there is usually external involvement in cyber-attacks with directors/management being most vulnerable according to 64 per cent, the report said adding, “It was also alarming to note that 54 per cent indicated that spend on cyber defences is less than five per cent of the IT spend.”
City police commissioner urged the companies to approach police instead of leaving such incidents go unreported.
“The reason for this (incidents being unreported), usually, is that the company is afraid of its reputation being spoilt in the market or his shares might come down,” said Commissioner Javed.
Also, the advancement and adoption of technology has enabled criminals to leverage upon it to carry out crime, he said.
The Mumbai police has a dedicated cyber police station and is continuously strengthening itself by undertaking trainings to deal with cyber-crime cases, he informed.
“It is critical for the citizens, both corporates and individuals, to be aware of cyber risks and not fall a prey to the phishing scams. We are undertaking a drive to educate and create an awareness among citizens with reference to cyber-threats,” Mr Javed said.
Source: http://www.ndtv.com/
