State Sponsored Cyber Attacks

State Sponsored Cyber Attacks

News: Recently, Apple Inc. has sent notification to individuals, including opposition leaders and journalists, about “State-Sponsored Attackers who are remotely trying to compromise” their iPhones.
• In 2021, the Paris-based Forbidden Stories collective reported that the Pegasus spyware, which was sold only to government agencies by an Israeli firm NSO Group, was allegedly used on a range of journalists, civil society groups and politicians in India.

What are State-Sponsored Cyber Attacks?
• State-sponsored cyber-attacks are cyber-attacks that are carried out by individuals or groups who are acting on behalf of a government.
• These attacks are usually methodically planned and executed. The attackers, often referred to as state-sponsored hackers, may be employed by the government or may be acting independently with the government’s tacit approval.
• The aim of these attacks can vary widely, but they often include espionage, disruption of infrastructure, or the spread of disinformation.
• In recent years, state-sponsored cyber-attacks have been on the rise. For instance, between 2021 and September 2023, state-sponsored cyber-attacks against India increased by 278%. During this period, targeted cyber-attacks on government agencies went up by 460%, and those on startups and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) by 508%.

Examples of State sponsored cyber attack
• Power Grids in Ladakh: Chinese state-sponsored hackers targeted India’s power grids in Ladakh.
• Flood Monitoring System in Goa: In July, cyber attackers hit the flood monitoring system in Goa. The ransomware attack prevented the ability to back up data, with attackers demanding Bitcoin in return for decryption of data.
• Global examples include Stuxnet worm, which targeted Iran's nuclear program, the alleged Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, and the 2017 WannaCry ransomware attack, which was linked to North Korea.

Implications of state sponsored Cyber attack
• Espionage and Data Theft
• Disruption of Critical Infrastructure: These attacks can target critical infrastructure such as power grids, transportation systems, and healthcare facilities.
• Economic Impact: The financial consequences of state-sponsored cyber-attacks are accelerating. Organizations are estimating a total of $1.6 million per cyber incident. This can have a significant impact on the economy.
• Political Impact: State-sponsored cyber-attacks can be used to spread disinformation and influence political processes. This can undermine public trust in government institutions and disrupt democratic processes.
• Global Relations: State-sponsored cyber-attacks can strain relations between countries.

Government of India initiatives
• National Cyber Security Policy, 2013
• National Cyber Security Strategy (2020)
• Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-IN)
• National Cyber Security Coordination Centre (NCCC)
• Cyber Swachhta Kendra
• Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre