Eight govt entities hit by info-stealing malware

National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO), a specialised intelligence agency under the National Security Advisor, wrote to the affected agencies on March 24 informing them of the attack .

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“The NTRO has been tracking and reporting the activities of Raccoon Stealer malware, which is available as Malware-as-a-service (MaaS). It is an information stealer malware that retrieves sensitive data from infected machines,” the intelligence agency wrote.

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An information stealing malware that is usually delivered through email, known as Raccoon Stealer, was used to target eight Central government entities, including central paramilitary forces and the Income Tax department, an intelligence agency recently informed the affected agencies.

National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO), a specialised intelligence agency under the National Security Advisor, wrote to the affected agencies on March 24 informing them of the attack .

It said “recent analysis” revealed that a malicious campaign was launched “by an unknown threat actor using Raccoon malware” to target computer systems of the Central Board of Direct Taxes of the Income Tax department; the pay and accounts department of the Central Public Works Department; the office of the IG of CRPF; the DG of the NSG; the assistant director (admin) of the Sashastra Seema Bal; the Centre for Social Tech of NCERT; a joint director of the National Institute of Disaster Management; and a call centre of the Sports Authority of India at JLN Stadium.

Damini Nath

Damini Nath is an Assistant Editor with the national bureau of The Indian Express. She covers the housing and urban affairs and Election Commission beats. She has 11 years of experience as a reporter and sub-editor. Before joining The Indian Express in 2022, she was a reporter with The Hindu’s national bureau covering culture, social justice, housing and urban affairs and the Election Commission. Expertise Key Coverage Areas: Damini Nath currently specializes in reporting on two crucial beats: Housing and Urban Affairs: Providing in-depth analysis and reporting on India's urban development, policy, and housing issues. Election Commission (EC): Offering authoritative coverage of electoral processes, policies, and the functioning of India's constitutional body responsible for conducting elections. Professional Background: Her extensive experience includes roles as a reporter and sub-editor, demonstrating a comprehensive understanding of the journalistic process from fieldwork to final production. Previous Role: Before joining The Indian Express in 2022, she served as a dedicated reporter with The Hindu’s national bureau, where her reporting portfolio included: Culture Social Justice Housing and Urban Affairs The Election Commission beat (a consistent area of focus). Trustworthiness Damini Nath's decade-plus career at two of India's most respected and authoritative news institutions, The Indian Express and The Hindu, underscores her commitment to factual, impartial, and high-quality reporting, establishing her as a trusted and credible source for news on urban governance and electoral matters. ... Read More

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