Cyber attack on NIC computers

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, September 18

A cyber breach was attempted by unidentified actors to install malware on approximately 100 odd computers of the National Informatics Centre (NIC), the government’s nodal agency which is responsible for securing critical cyber-infrastructure in the country, sources in the government said. A complaint has been lodged with the Delhi Police.

The police, in an official statement, said a government employee had recently reported that he was having difficulty in accessing his official email account which was lying unused for some weeks.

Earlier, the NIC found there was “an attempted breach by unidentified cyber actors”, which is a kind of regular activity over cyber space, it said, adding that the malware was, however, detected by the government’s IT agency’s robust cyber security systems.

According to initial investigation, an email from a Bengaluru firm is suspected to have created the malware and the alarm was raised.

According to sources, the computers at the NIC’s cyber hub contain crucial information and data on India’s security, citizens and important government functionaries, including the PM, National Security Adviser, Home Minister among others.