India goes on the offensive in cyber warfare

[EagleOne]

After being at the receiving end of cyber attacks from across the border for many years, India is preparing a blueprint for undertaking counter cyber warfare on unfriendly countries.

According to a proposal being considered by the National Security Council, Indian agencies may be told to enhance capabilities to exploit weaknesses in the information systems of other countries and also collect online intelligence of key military activities.

The proposal includes setting up laboratories in research institutions to simulate cyber attacks with the help of ethical hackers. These laboratories would be used for training intelligence agencies for offensive and defensive cyber warfare techniques. Personnel working in this area may be given legal immunity for carrying out these activities.

The blueprint is likely be put into action by the National Technical Research Organisation, the Defence Intelligence Agency and the Defence Research and Development Organisation.

The plan also talks about setting up early-warning capabilities about impending attacks on the country's information systems and developing expertise in cyber forensics, which includes tools that focus on acquiring information from attacked systems to find out sources of attacks.

The Government is looking at setting up a National Testing Facility that will certify all imported software and hardware procured for key information systems. Security agencies are concerned about spyware or malware embedded into imported products which can be used by unfriendly countries to disrupt key sectors.

The proposed testing facility will be on the lines of the Trust Technology Assessment Programme in the US.

In order to secure key areas such as banking, Defence, the Railways, civil aviation, atomic energy and oil and gas, it is being proposed to set up a Computer Emergency Response Team for each of these sectors.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2010/08/04/stories/2010080453820901.htm

 

[tarunraju]

Great news, finally we get to harness our IT human resources for national security.

 

[SHASH2K2]

I consider these steps as defensive steps . Offensive steps in my opinion will be to take fight to enemy territory ie to do TIT for TAT .

 

[SATISH]

The best hacker is the person who enters and leaves the cyberspace without leaving a trace...

 

[arya]

thats sound good but what is condition on ground

 

[Patriot]

India Moots Cyber Warfare Policy

ndia Defence Online, New Delhi – As fear mounts on the Indian government over the issue of spying by neighbouring countries; the government has proposed the hiring of Information Technology (IT) workers and ethical hackers, heralding itself to the era of cyber war.

The Indian government will ensure that these ethical "hackers" will use their proficiency to break through the security codes of the enemy's systems. The IT workers who will involve themselves in this project will get protection from law.

As per the proposal, the National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO) along with Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) will be responsible for creating cyber-offensive capabilities. The NTRO is used to gather technical intelligence, while the DIA compare inputs from the Navy, Army and Air Force. The NTRO will also suggest measures to ensure legal protection to recruits besides accumulating intelligence.

India is well on its way towards "ethical hacking" like other countries due to threats from China and Pakistan. According to the Citizen Lab at the University of Toronto, a China-based group of hackers had conducted extensive spying operations in India, stealing defence ministry's confidential documents. Due to the growing incidents of computer systems being hacked, it is inevitable for India to counter these threats by initiating hacking.

According to sources, 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. Since cyber crime is on a roll, the government plans to use hackers for their technical expertise to plan offensive against spies and block strikes by breaching the security walls of enemy systems. Cyber experts have been suggesting the need to employ hackers to safeguard India's networks and ensure that the nation's systems are secure and foolproof.




http://indiadefenceonline.com/2118/india-moots-cyber-warfare-policy/

 

[sandeepdg]

Hope something good comes out of this when the show hits the ground !! India is well known for its big talk and no show !!

 

[Patriot]

Cybersecurity Critical For India and U.S.

Sep 8, 2010
By Neelam Mathews [email protected]
NEW DELHI

India, like the U.S., needs an integrated homeland security strategy and cybersecurity is critical to the nation's economic and financial growth, according to members of the U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC) attending India's Homeland Security Exhibition and Conference (Indesec) here.

With India and the U.S. sharing a common interest in defending against terrorist networks, preventing cyberattacks and protecting critical infrastructure, a formal working group is being established between the two countries on cybersecurity.

USIBC also is hosting a series of meetings with the Indian government and the private sector to discuss collaboration on training, processes and technology, as well as sharing best practices in homeland security.

"Lessons learned post-9/11 can be adapted to India," says U.S. Coast Guard Adm. (ret.) James Loy, who is now senior counselor at the Cohen Group consultancy. "Deeper U.S-India counterterrorism and homeland security cooperation must also focus on developing rapid and coordinated response and recovery capability to deal with future events.

"With industry and government working together, the government often leads the way to 'what' needs to be done and industry the leads the way with 'how'" to reach the objective, says Loy, who was USCG commandant in 1998-2002, head of the Transportation Security Administration in 2002-03 and deputy secretary of the U.S. Homeland Security Department in 2003-05.

"The fact that India's [information technology] industry is so huge and the world depends on what you bring in that area is [in itself] a concern as huge hubs become targets," says U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. (ret.) Harry D. Raduege, Jr., chairman of the Deloitte Center for Cyber Innovation and former head of the Pentagon's Defense Information Systems Agency.

"We're working with the East-West Institute that started the First Worldwide Cybersecurity Summit. There are indications that India will host the summit in 2012," Raduege says.

The USIBC mission comes on the heels of nine U.S. aerospace and defense executive delegations to India to further promote strategic collaboration between the U.S. and India.

"U.S. industry's participation in and support of India's homeland security sector will not only provide India with the best equipment, but will also boost job creation in both countries through technology-sharing, partnerships and high-end manufacturing," says Nik Khanna, director of aerospace and defense for USIBC.

(Photo: U.S. Air Force)






http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?

 

[prototype]

well why cant first of all we use the resources to create a new breed of guys like Ankit fadia,they will b headache for any nation

 

[shuvo@y2k10]

why did it take india being an it superpower so long to give a go ahead to develop offensive cyberspace warfare capabilities when advanced nations are already in possesion of it and when pakistani & chinese hackers repeatedly hacks into sensitive computers like the one targeting computers of pmo office a few days ago

 

[Logan]

This was bound to come at some stage.India has a lot of potential in the IT sector in a positive sense.It has always been the breeding ground for several software developers.But due to the moderate policy of the government and the defence ministry we never went on to harm anyone.But going by the fact that there are lots of potential Indian hackers operating in an outside the country if reigned in and payed a handsome amount then it will not only be possible to hack into an offending country's computer network to derive secret military and other defence info of that country but also these hackers are capable to design a robust virus and make them infiltrate into the enemy's cyber network moving undetected even through the firewalls and cause complete mayhem to their internet communication.