Though terrorism is often related to geographical boundaries peppered with religious faith, terrorist operations are logging on to a mode where physical boundaries no longer matters. In this age of Web2.0, there are all indications that terrorism is also going hi-tech.
And in the backdrop of such developments, it is time India had deployed virtual defense across the country to protect it from a new breed of terrorists – cyber terrorists.
This breed has a big advantage that it won't need to risk its fighters' life while launching a massive attack on the infrastructure of a nation. These terrorists don't need to maneuver through the gun wielding defense force too.
As a reader you might be sneering at my apparent paranoia. Wait to jump to a conclusion, it was already reported that hackers from across the border in Pakistan had set their mortars firing at websites in India, while Indian hackers are falling considerably short in firepower.
Of course, I am not saying that we should enhance our hacking capabilities, but we should beef up our Internet security.
“In the ongoing cyber warfare between the two countries, roughly 40-50 Indian sites are being hacked on a daily basis by Pakistani hackers while about 10 Pakistani sites are being hit by their Indian counterparts”, the an Economic Times report recently quoted Ankit Fadia, Mumbai-based cyber crime expert as saying.
I think now you are clear that it is not a mere blabbering of a paranoiac. The concerns are not confined to the Indo-Pak scenario. Even the super defense power, the US, is on a high alert mode as critical IT infrastructures in that country are reportedly put on close watch. Federal Bureau of Investigation is keeping an eye on al Qaeda suspects with an intent of, and flair to launch cyber attack on infrastructures like power grids and transportation systems.
Interestingly, in the US, there is no evidence that terrorist groups have developed sophisticated cyber-attack capabilities. But according to Steven Chabinsky, deputy assistant director of the FBI's Cyber Division, the real concern is “If terrorists were to amass such capabilities, they would be wielded with destructive and deadly intent”.
The control systems of U.S. infrastructure as well as money transfers are now connected directly or indirectly to the Internet. India also is heading to board a completely virtual plane. But is our security efficient enough to preempt a possible nasty blow which could be capable of having us on our knee?
The question is not at all irrelevant as Intelligent Bureau opines that the immediate threat to India is from our immediate neighbors, Pakistan and China.
They think China may try and destabilize India's economy by launching attacks on its banking sectors while Pakistan may attack essential commodity-related services.
Rediff, citing experts, reports that there could be three stages of cyber wars on India. First the enemy would bring down the control systems of defense installations, Parliament, railways and airports. Secondly, they would look to attack financial services such as banks and stock markets. Finally, ESCOMs and other utilities services will be taken over.
Now that said, there are two options before us. Let us either let the IT security companies to continue facilitating the never ending good guy-bad guy chase and rake in big moolah out of that. Or let us be more prudent and design a cyber defense strategy that can be too hard to break into.
It goes without saying that we have to stick to the latter. But we need to make sure our national interests are not overshadowed by business intentions.
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