‘Citizen Data if hacked may lead to physical harm’

Pallav Gupta, head, government, vertical, F5 Networks

GN Bureau | June 20, 2012



You are looking at a time bomb which is ticking and ready to explode. There are several layers of security and a cyberattack can be on any layer.

Ninety-eight percent of the experiment is made on level three securities. But hackers are no fools; they target other layers. They prefer to attack where it leads to monetary loss. A citizen data can be most attractive and vulnerable as far as cyberattacks are concerned. It will not only inflict financial loss but it may also do physical harm. This means identity papers may be hacked by terrorists who can misuse them. 

Still the government is oblivious and keeps on building third layer security. I would suggest protecting the data at the lowest layer. There are gateways where public and private networks merge. We need to enhance our security there.

Also, in the online world, forensic trails are important. The officials have to learn the art of digital forensics and have to be taught not to leave their own trails in the cyberspace which may create trouble. Therefore, imparting special training and education is necessary. Education of the stakeholders, therefore, becomes the key. Learning from global best practices and implementing them will be the best solution right now.

Cyberlaws are another area to ensure e-security and the government has been wonderful in framing laws. But one place where it lacks is the penalty aspect. There is virtually no penalty attached to cybercrime and there are no deadlines to implement cybersecurity policy.

Comments

 

Other News

AI: Code, Control, Conquer

India today stands at a critical juncture in the area of artificial intelligence. While the country is among the fastest adopters of AI in the world, it remains heavily reliant on technologies developed elsewhere. This paradox, experts warn, cannot persist if India seeks technological sovereignty.

RBI pauses to assess inflation risks, policy transmission

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has begun the new fiscal year with a calibrated pause, keeping the repo rate unchanged at 5.25 per cent in its April Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting. The decision, taken unanimously, reflects a shift from aggressive policy action to cautious observation after a signi

New pathways for tourism growth

Traditionally, India’s tourism policy has been based on three main components: the number of visitors, building tourist attractions and providing facilities for tourists. Due to the increase in climate-related issues and environmental destruction that occurred over previous years, policymakers have b

Is the US a superpower anymore?

On April 8, hours after warning that “a whole civilisation will die tonight,” US president Donald Trump, exhibiting his unique style of retreating from high-voltage brinkmanship, announced that he agreed to a two-week ceasefire with Iran. The weekend talks in Islamabad have failed and the futur

Machines communicate, humans connect

There is a moment every event professional knows—the kind that arrives without warning, usually an hour before the curtain rises. Months of meticulous planning are in place. And then comes the call: “We’ll also need a projector. For the slides.”   No email

Why India is entering a ‘stagflation lite’ phase

India’s macroeconomic narrative is quietly shifting—from a rare “Goldilocks” equilibrium of stable growth and contained inflation to a more fragile phase where external shocks are beginning to dominate domestic policy outcomes. The numbers still look reassuring at first glance: GDP


Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter