Over 62000 cyber attacks till May 2014

 

The cyber security arm CERT-In (Computer Emergency Response Team - India) of the Indian government reported 62,189 cyber attacks in the first half of the current calendar year.

Communications and IT minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "These incidents include phishing, scanning, spam, malicious code and website intrusion.

Adding further he said, "It has been observed that the attackers' compromise computer systems located in different parts of the world and user masquerading techniques and hidden servers to hide the identity of the actual system from which the attacks are being launched. US, Europe, Brazil, Turkey, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Algeria, and the UAE are to name a few."

The steep rise in numbers has become a cause of deep concern. Prasad in the Parliament said, "During the years 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 (till May), a total number of 21,699, 27,605, 28,481 and 9,174 Indian websites were hacked by various hacker groups spread across worldwide. In addition, during these years, a total number of 13,301, 22,060, 71,780 and 62,189 security incidents, respectively, were reported to the CERT-In,"

"As per the cyber crime data maintained by National Cyber Records Bureau, a total of 1,791, 2,876 and 4,356 cyber crime cases were registered under Information Technology Act during the year 2011, 2012 and 1013, respectively, thereby showing an increasing trend," he added.

A total of 422, 601 and 1,337 cases were registered under cyber crime related sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) during the year 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively, he said.