Hacker threat: MoD to step up network security

Close on the heels of a Swedish ‘security consultant’ cracking the e-mail passwords of the Indian Embassy and Defence Ministry officials...

Close on the heels of a Swedish ‘security consultant’ cracking the e-mail passwords of the Indian Embassy and Defence Ministry officials, Minister of State for Defence M M Pallam Raju said on Friday that the Armed Forces will now improve the encryption methods to ensure cyber security.

The Ministry of Defence is also looking at roping in the Ministry of Telecommunication to ensure cyber security of key communication systems, said Raju at a seminar on ‘Network Security, Information Privacy and Lawful Monitoring’ at the ASSOCHAM House.

Raju said the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team has handled 200 cyber security cases this year. “The disturbing part is that apparently the Swedish national not only hacked into various Indian Embassy websites, but also some of the websites pertaining to the Defence Ministry. This has raised doubts about the level of security cover given to corporate and Government websites,” said Raju. He said compared to Western countries, India is far behind when it comes to security awareness. “Techniques of breaking the encryption codes are evolving. Hence, the network has to be constantly monitored,” said Raju.