The latest virus detected on the country's Internet network is so notorious and lethal that it acquires as many as 20 aliases or masks to infect and attack a vulnerable computer system which is low on security features.
The home ministry also ordered a probe by the Computer Emergency Response Team-India to ascertain whether there was hacking of government software systems as there have been several instances where licences of NGOs under scrutiny were renewed automatically.
The audacity of the virus has been categorised as 'severe' and cyber experts say such a malicious programme has been detected for the first time which asks for a ransom of an estimated Euro or $300 to unlock the genuine files of a user through 'anonymous pre-paid cash vouchers'.
'If there are any incidents of cyberattacks, they should immediately inform CERT.'
Cyber security sleuths have alerted Indian internet users against hacking attempts of a clandestine multi-identity virus -Bladabindi -- which steals sensitive personal information of a user for nefarious purposes.
The virus possesses a unique ability to acquire a safe network domain id in order to falsely add itself to the firewall exclusion list and bypass a user's firewall mechanism.
Home ministry sources say there are fears that international lobbies might have been involved in spying, to create a narrative around Indian governance as well as the economy.
Cyber security sleuths have warned Indian Internet users against a potent Trojan virus in the social media and email circuit which stealthily encrypts important documents of the user and then asks for a 'ransom' to unlock proprietary messages.
Cyber security sleuths have alerted Internet users in the country against phishing attacks from suspect digital signatures which got "unauthorisedly" issued through the state-owned National Informatics Centre.
'What we are actually missing in India is a platform wherein the government engages with cybersecurity experts, gets them employed and then utilises their capability to deter such attacks.'
Gulshan Rai talks to Surabhi Agarwal about the tussle with social media companies over sharing data, Section 66a of the Information Technology Act and his new job.
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