Answer:

Introduction:

In contemporary times, warfare is no longer confined to traditional battlefields. The digital realm has emerged as the ‘Fourth Front’ of warfare – a domain where nations engage in cyber warfare. This term refers to the strategic use of digital attacks by one nation-state against another, intending to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to critical infrastructures, computer systems, data, and networks, thereby causing substantial harm to the economy, security, and military capabilities.

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Cyber Threats Vulnerable to India

• Data Breaches:
  • With the rapid digitization of services in India, threats of large-scale data breaches have increased.
  • For example, the reported breach in 2020 where personal details of 2.9 crore Indians were allegedly sold on the dark web, highlighting the severity of such threats.
• Attacks on Critical Infrastructure:
  • India’s critical infrastructures are becoming increasingly vulnerable to cyber-attacks.
  • For instance, in 2020, the power system in Mumbai faced an unexpected blackout, which, as per reports, was a suspected cyber-attack.

• Cyber Espionage:
  • India has been a target of numerous state-sponsored cyber-espionage attacks.
  • A notable example is the ‘Operation Hangover’ attributed to Pakistan, where military, diplomatic, and corporate entities were targeted for sensitive information.
• Phishing and Social Engineering Attacks:
  • These attacks are becoming more sophisticated and widespread in India.
  • According to the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), the country witnessed over 2.7 lakh cybersecurity incidents related to phishing in 2020 alone.
• Cyber Terrorism:
  • The digital space has become a new medium for terror organizations to spread propaganda and orchestrate attacks.
  • Groups like ISIS have been reported to use the internet to recruit members from India and spread their ideologies.

State of India’s Preparedness

• Policy and Regulatory Framework: India has established a legal and policy framework to deal with cyber threats, including the IT Act 2000 and National Cyber Security Policy 2013. However, their implementation remains a challenge.
• Technical and Operational Capabilities: Organizations like CERT-In (Indian Computer Emergency Response Team) and NCIIPC (National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre) have been established to respond to cyber threats.
• International Cooperation: India has been actively cooperating with international bodies and other nations to share intelligence and best practices in cyber security.
• Public-Private Partnership: Collaboration between government and private sector in areas like cyber threat intelligence sharing, capacity building, and research is gaining traction.

Conclusion:

While India has made strides in strengthening its cyber warfare preparedness, there’s a need for more robust technology, up-to-date regulations, and greater investment in building skilled human resources in the field of cyber security.

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