About 7,000 cyberattacks a day were recorded in May 2024. From 2019 to 2024, there was a notable increase in cyberattacks. The majority of these complaints concerned internet financial fraud. In India, hackers extracted Rs. 176 crores between January and April of 2024. Victims are vulnerable to online investment fraud, gaming apps, illegal loan apps and OTP frauds.
India is driven by rapid digitization. It brings major benefits to citizens, businesses, and the organizational sector. Significantly, the digital revolution brings forth cybersecurity challenges at the same time. In India, the use of the internet is increasing day-by-day. Globally, after China, India ranks the 2nd largest country in terms of the number of internet users.
A growing number of industries in India, including retail, healthcare, education, finance, and agriculture, depend on online platforms and their services due to the country’s growing digital economy. That being said, the structure, strategy, awareness, and regulations related to cyber security have been outdated, inadequate, and un-systematized.
Regardless of having a number of agencies, India is facing complex and organized cyber threats. Hackers exploit system flaws that are easily exploitable because of a lack of coordination and duplication of responsibilities across multiple agencies. Cyber-attacks can disrupt and endanger essential services, economics, public safety, or national security as a result of attacks on critical infrastructure in India.
The government played a crucial role in improvising the infrastructure and confronting the cyber security challenges in India. To raise awareness of cybercrimes and to build a safe, reliable cyberspace for citizens, businesses, and the state, various policies and initiatives have been put in place.
The organizations that specialize in cybersecurity can adopt such initiatives and policies, collaborate or partner with different agencies and sectors, and adopt best practices and standards in order to take proactive steps to safeguard critical infrastructure, businesses, and individuals.
Cybersecurity In India Faces A Range Of Threats And Challenges
Cybercrime is the term for violent, politically motivated attacks on data, computer systems, and information. Cyber-attacks can interrupt vital services and jeopardize public safety and national security, posing a threat to the nation’s critical infrastructure, which includes power grids, transportation systems, and communication networks.
In India, data breaches and other cyber threats are becoming more frequent. Financial fraud, online scams, and identity theft are the main causes of cyber risks. In addition to the technological infrastructure, the nation’s sensitive or confidential data is becoming more vulnerable.
Cyberattacks by foreign entities, such as those aimed at power plants, military bases, and Indian embassies, have been concerning for a long time. An attack may reach a variety of objectives, including compromising the system completely, stealing data, and disrupting service.
Furthermore, ransomware, phishing, and other cyber threats, as well as a shortage of educated cyber professionals and educators, are ongoing issues in India. Ransomware has affected numerous businesses and government agencies.
Cyber espionage is a method of using cyberattacks to spy on or violate the goals of other countries or organizations. Cyber espionage operations aim to steal confidential data and obtain a tactical edge, with India being a target. APTs, or advanced persistent threats, are extremely skilled cybercriminals who execute complex cyberattacks.
The objective is to enter the target’s network and remain hidden there for an extended period of time. Supply chain vulnerabilities are weaknesses in software or hardware components used by businesses and government organizations that hackers could exploit to compromise systems and services and cause significant harm.
A significant threat to India’s financial system comes from cybercriminals who steal and extort money. Online payment systems, banks, and financial institutions can be attacked, leading to identity theft and money loss and lowering consumer confidence in the financial system. With the growth of India’s digital economy, more government and personal data will be stored online, increasing the risk of data breaches.
Strategies Taken By eScan To Strengthen Cybersecurity
eScan provides a Bot Removal Tool in association with Cyber Swacchta Kendra, a part of the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) and the Ministry of Electronics and IT. The tool was developed to help people remove malware and botnet infections from their computers.
Botnets are a major threat as it cause destruction on a large – scale. It is very much necessary to protect your network. The features of the Bot Removal Tool are mentioned below:
- Detecting, quarantining and removing the latest botnet infection, spyware, virus, adware and malware.
- View logs for both past and present scan sessions and quarantined files.
- Update virus signature database.
- Does not interfere with other antivirus programs or system performance.
- Make and keep thorough records of every step.
In case, if the user wants to take any preliminary steps to prevent the system from any attacks, follow the steps mentioned below:
- Keeping all the systems updated using eScan’s Cybersecurity Solutions
- Enable Two-factor authentication (2FA).
- Monitor network traffic.
- Adopt a passwordless environment.
Additionally, eScan offers a wide range of products, including content security, advanced rootkit detection, anti-virus, anti-spam, anti-ransomware, and network intrusion prevention.
The mission is to secure computers at any scale with futuristic security knowledge, whether they are at home, in small businesses, or in enterprises.
Other clients include government and defense organizations, telecom and IT businesses, infrastructure suppliers, financial and banking institutions, and educational institutions. They can browse, play, bank, shop, and connect to the internet safely. Further, it is used in hospitals, universities, schools, and health care services around the world. eScan solutions secure all of your information security assets by addressing the complete security landscape.
Conclusion
Organizations are facing difficulties safeguarding their infrastructure due to emerging technologies and cyber threats, necessitating the use of new platforms and intelligence. To reduce cybercrimes and guarantee a secure future in cyberspace, eScan provides a range of security solutions, such as Anti-Virus, Anti-Spam, advanced rootkit detection, Anti-Ransomware & also its renowned eScanAV Anti-Virus Toolkit (MWAV).
