The Indian government has directed app-based communication services like WhatsApp and Telegram to ensure continuous linkage to a user's active SIM card to combat cyber fraud. Non-compliance will result in penalties under the Telecommunications Act, 2023.
The missive has, however, polarised stakeholders, with mobile operators under COAI coming out in its support, while digital platforms under the aegis of Broadband India Forum expressing "serious concerns" around overreach and calling for a pause in implementation of timelines.
'Perhaps unlike any previous era of software, this one requires a rethink in even the lifecycle of how we build.'
Rajan said the RBI is working on upgrading the capabilities of its inspectors to undertake bank system audits as well as to detect vulnerabilities in them
Cybersecurity breaches have emerged as the top risk shaping organisational performance, with 61 per cent of respondents identifying it as the primary risk, said a Ficci and EY report.
Haryana Police launched 'Operation Aakraman-21' across the state, resulting in numerous arrests and seizures of drugs, illicit liquor, and illegal arms.
As the RBI moves ahead for the launch of the central bank digital currency (CBDC), Governor Shaktikanta Das on Wednesday marked out cyber security and digital frauds as the main challenges in the new system. Deputy Governor T Rabi Sankar said there are two types of CBDCs - wholesale and retail - and a lot of work has happened in the former while the latter was termed as a "complicated" aspect which will take time. The RBI had earlier this year announced that it has started work on the CBDC, in line with other major central banks of the world which are looking at a fiat digital currency.
Both sides remained tigh-lipped about the meeting between Sibal and White House cybersecurity coordinator Howard Schmidt, Christopher Painter as Coordinator for Cyber Issues and Bruce Mcconnell Senior Coordinator for Department Under Secretary Homeland.
Multiple schools in Delhi received bomb threat emails, leading to evacuations and security deployments. Authorities are investigating the source of the threats, which also mentioned a potential attack on Parliament.
Apple does not plan to comply with the mandate to preload mobile handsets with the 'Sanchar Saathi' app and will convey its concerns before the Indian government, Reuters reported on Tuesday, citing three unnamed sources.
The IRGC said the barrage targeted several US military facilities in the region, including bases at Sheikh Isa in Bahrain, Juffair in Bahrain, Ali al-Salem in Kuwait and Al Azraq in Jordan.
Protests erupted in Jammu and Kashmir following events in Iran, leading to heightened security measures and appeals for peace.
Haryana's Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini announced a plan to equip police with body cameras, establish new women and cybercrime police stations, and form an Anti-Terrorist Squad as part of a broader effort to modernise the state's police force.
The Telangana Cyber Security Bureau (TGCSB) foiled a digital arrest extortion attempt, rescuing an 80-year-old doctor and his family from cyber fraudsters posing as CBI officials.
Even while these threats to computers become more numerous (currently numbering around 3 million) and unique (each affecting around 50 computers), smartphones (ie, those based on an operating systems) have emerged as a vulnerable medium because of unregulated third party apps.
With the Department of Telecom asking mobile phone makers to pre-install Sanchar Saathi application in new handsets, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday described it as a 'snooping app' and alleged that the government is turning the country into a dictatorship.
The Mumbai Police has assured the Bombay High Court that it will act promptly on cyber fraud complaints and sensitize all police officials to ensure prompt action and FIR registration when such complaints are filed. The assurance came after a city-based woman filed a petition alleging that the local police failed to act swiftly on her cyber fraud complaint, resulting in a loss of Rs 45 lakh. The court has directed the Additional Director General of Police (Maharashtra Cyber) to appear before it on April 22 to inform the bench on the formation of the Maharashtra Cyber Security Corporation.
Nagaland Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla announced the state government's plans to form an interim council for the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA) and highlighted key achievements and future priorities across various sectors during the Budget Session.
Sebi Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey announced intensified surveillance and technology-driven enforcement to combat pre-investment scams targeting retail investors, who are increasingly being lured by fake trading apps and promises of high returns.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's 'X' handle was hacked, with images of Pakistan and Turkey flags posted. The account was recovered in 45 minutes. Congress leader Nana Patole raised concerns about cyber security.
India ranked second among nations that were most targeted for cyber crime through the social media in 2014, after America
Chinese characters were seen on the website, indicating that Chinese hackers may be involved in it.
'Look at what kind of sites the child is visiting, what kind of games they are playing and then tell them about the pitfalls.' 'After the child sleeps, parents can check the history of sites visited and block sites that could be dangerous or inappropriate.'
India and Israel on Tuesday signed a defence pact that will facilitate sharing of advanced technologies and promote co-development and co-production of key weapon systems and military hardware, in a major move to further bolster their already robust strategic ties.
Karnataka Chief Minister announces a ban on social media for children under 16 and increased measures to prevent drug abuse in schools, colleges, and universities, alongside investments in education infrastructure and mental health support.
Based in California and having a strong presence in Bangalore, Narus is a leading provider of real-time network traffic and analytics software used to protect against cyber attacks and persistent threats aimed at large Internet Protocol networks.
On Tuesday, the AIIMS also issued a statement that the e-hospital data has been restored.
The Taiwanese government is investigating whether Xiaomi Inc, China's leading smartphone company by domestic shipments, is a cyber security threat and will make a decision within three months.
Started as a pilot project for Delhi, the new system will automatically convert into FIRs cyber financial crimes filed on the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (NCRP) and helpline number 1930, initially above the threshold limit of Rs 10 lakh, he said.
The caller told the victim that a bank account linked to his mobile number had allegedly received Rs 7 crore through money laundering activities and warned that he would be arrested in the case.
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In cyber security, India's main concerns are Pakistani and Chinese espionage. Which is exactly why the US needs to build up partnership with India.
Cyber fraudsters have duped Delhi residents of nearly Rs 1,000 crore so far this year, with investment scams, digital arrests and boss scams emerging as the most common cybercrimes.
The India centre, which is the seventh such facility for the company globally, will function as a satellite to Microsoft's Redmond-based Digital Crimes Unit.
At an estimated 1.9 billion in losses and over 5,000 UK organisations affected, the Jaguar Land Rover cyberattack has been labelled the most economically damaging cyber incident in UK history, exposing the deep vulnerability of interconnected supply chains.
Pilot noted that 'the kind of damage that entities and groups and people can cause through the Internet and through the cyber-world is somehow disproportionate to their conventional capacities'.
Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury has filed an adjournment motion in the Rajya Sabha to discuss the government's directive on pre-installation of the Sanchar Saathi App in new mobile handsets, citing privacy concerns.
The meeting between United States President Barack Obama and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping later this week will be dominated by talks on cyber security, North Korea and Asia Pacific region along with bilateral relations, White House officials have said.
According to the direction dated November 28, all mobile phones that will be manufactured in India or imported after 90 days from the date of issuing of the order will need to have the app.
The Indian government informed Parliament that India and the US are engaged in negotiations for a mutually beneficial multi-sectoral bilateral trade agreement. The two countries also cooperate on strategic, economic, and defense matters, managing divergences through high-level dialogues.
'Just like oral hygiene, cyber hygiene must become a daily habit,' says Beena Vaheed, executive director, Bank of Baroda. 'It is not enough to rely only on banks, companies, or the government. Each of us must play our part.'
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