Cybersecurity has become a major concern worldwide, given the growing reliance on technology in today's increasingly digital world. India is no exception, and it faces significant cybersecurity challenges that threaten its national security, citizens, and businesses. Cybersecurity threats in India range from simple acts of cybercrime like hacking, phishing, and identity theft to more sophisticated and well-coordinated attacks like Advanced Persistent Threats and cyber espionage. The interconnected nature of technology and its critical role in India's economy and society make it crucial to address these challenges and ensure the security and stability of the country's digital networks.

India's rapid adoption of technology and widespread use of the Internet has made it an attractive target for cybercriminals. Confidential government and military data, as well as citizens' personal and financial information, are at risk of being stolen or leaked by cybercriminals. Cyberattacks could cause not only widespread disruption but also severe implications for national security and public safety. The potential disruption of critical infrastructure, such as power and transportation networks, is one of the national security concerns for India.

It is proven that India has been experiencing a rise in cybercrime, with several instances of high-profile attacks targeting critical infrastructure and sensitive information. These attacks have targeted a range of industries, from nuclear power plants and airlines to maritime facilities, vaccine portals, and healthcare institutes.

The increase in cybercrime is attributed to various factors, including the post-COVID digitalisation and hybrid work culture, which have created new opportunities for cybercriminals to exploit vulnerabilities. Additionally, the modernisation of attack toolkits and the emergence of ransomware as a service have made it easier for even novice cybercriminals to launch attacks.

India has taken several steps to combat cybercrime, including the establishment of cybersecurity nodal agencies, which are responsible for tracking and responding to cyber threats. However, given the scale and sophistication of modern cyberattacks, there is a need for continued vigilance and investment in cybersecurity measures to ensure the protection of critical infrastructure and sensitive information.

The government has taken measures to address these challenges, such as developing a draft National Cyber Security Strategy and working with companies and international organizations to share intelligence and coordinate response efforts in the event of a cyber-attack. However, more needs to be done. Cybersecurity needs to be emphasized in university and school curriculums, and public officials should conduct regular vulnerability assessments to raise awareness of the growing cyber threat. A dedicated industry forum for cybersecurity should be established to create reliable homegrown solutions to stop cyberattacks.

To make India a leader in this digital world, it must take proactive measures to strengthen its cybersecurity defenses, including investing in cybersecurity technologies, educating the public and enterprises on secure online practices, and implementing robust security measures to protect critical infrastructure. By addressing these challenges, India can protect its citizens, businesses, and national interests and safeguard its future in the digital age.

Cybersecurity has become a major concern worldwide, given the growing reliance on technology in today's increasingly digital world. India is no exception, and it faces significant cybersecurity challenges that threaten its national security, citizens, and businesses.

Cybersecurity has become a major concern worldwide, given the growing reliance on technology in today's increasingly digital world. India is no exception, and it faces significant cybersecurity challenges that threaten its national security, citizens, and businesses. Cybersecurity threats in India range from simple acts of cybercrime like hacking, phishing, and identity theft to more sophisticated and well-coordinated attacks like Advanced Persistent Threats and cyber espionage. The interconnected nature of technology and its critical role in India's economy and society make it crucial to address these challenges and ensure the security and stability of the country's digital networks. India's rapid adoption of technology and widespread use of the Internet has made it an attractive target for cybercriminals. Confidential government and military data, as well as citizens' personal and financial information, are at risk of being stolen or leaked by cybercriminals. Cyberattacks could cause not only widespread disruption but also severe implications for national security and public safety. The potential disruption of critical infrastructure, such as power and transportation networks, is one of the national security concerns for India. It is proven that India has been experiencing a rise in cybercrime, with several instances of high-profile attacks targeting critical infrastructure and sensitive information. These attacks have targeted a range of industries, from nuclear power plants and airlines to maritime facilities, vaccine portals, and healthcare institutes. The increase in cybercrime is attributed to various factors, including the post-COVID digitalisation and hybrid work culture, which have created new opportunities for cybercriminals to exploit vulnerabilities. Additionally, the modernisation of attack toolkits and the emergence of ransomware as a service have made it easier for even novice cybercriminals to launch attacks. India has taken several steps to combat cybercrime, including the establishment of cybersecurity nodal agencies, which are responsible for tracking and responding to cyber threats. However, given the scale and sophistication of modern cyberattacks, there is a need for continued vigilance and investment in cybersecurity measures to ensure the protection of critical infrastructure and sensitive information. The government has taken measures to address these challenges, such as developing a draft National Cyber Security Strategy and working with companies and international organizations to share intelligence and coordinate response efforts in the event of a cyber-attack. However, more needs to be done. Cybersecurity needs to be emphasized in university and school curriculums, and public officials should conduct regular vulnerability assessments to raise awareness of the growing cyber threat. A dedicated industry forum for cybersecurity should be established to create reliable homegrown solutions to stop cyberattacks. To make India a leader in this digital world, it must take proactive measures to strengthen its cybersecurity defenses, including investing in cybersecurity technologies, educating the public and enterprises on secure online practices, and implementing robust security measures to protect critical infrastructure. By addressing these challenges, India can protect its citizens, businesses, and national interests and safeguard its future in the digital age.

The issue of cybersecurity - a rising threat to the national security of India

Online shopping has become an integral part of our modern society, and with the festive season right around the corner, we see various e-commerce portals offering attractive festive offers, driving more people to their platforms. While online shopping is bliss for humanity, the chances of becoming a victim of cyber fraud are much higher than in ordinary retail outlets. It is important to know certain rules while shopping online so that you do not lose your money, especially during this festive season.



Shop only on verified sites

The chance of being a victim of a fraudulent scheme is much lower on a website you already know.&nbsp;Those companies that have already built up their reputation and a large customer base will not take risks just for the sake of momentary quick earnings.&nbsp;Therefore, even during festive seasons, resist the temptation to order an item from an unknown seller offering a lower price.&nbsp;Festive time is not a reason to test new sellers or portals, especially the lesser-known ones with hard-to-believe offers.



Special attention should be paid to domains. Often, fraudsters use well-known brands with different Top Level Domains (TLDs). You can understand this by looking at the end of the address, e.g. instead of .com it may be .in, .net or .org. Of course, such sites may offer good promotions, but there is no guarantee that you will receive the goods ordered for the promotion (usually carried out on an advance payment). In addition, the owners of such sites get access to the confidential payment information of their customers.



Websites must be encrypted

Don't forget to look at the start of the website address (URL) as well - a secure website always starts with https://. It is not recommended to make purchases with your banking information on sites whose address starts with http://. It’s quite possible that such sites may not be owned by a fraudster but by an honest seller. However, your payment details on such sites are prone to theft as they transit over an insecure channel.



You should also stay alert in case you receive a request to send your credit card number or other details via e-mail. A normal e-store never works in this way.



Password protection

In well-known online stores, you'll need to create your own personal account. And here, too, you need to follow the safety rules and be creative while setting your password. It has long been known that using simple attributes such as your date of birth or car number as a password is highly vulnerable. However, there are many people who forget about it. If you can't come up with a strong password yourself, you can use a trusted password generator.



This feature is available in many password managers. It uses random characters and then stores them in its own secure database.



Check your financial transactions

Make it a habit to regularly check the status of your cards and bank accounts through internet banking or mobile banking. Often, during the festive season, we are less attentive and relaxed, and we use our cards in unfamiliar places. Carefully check each payment, and examine invoices for payments that you did not make. By noticing such transactions in time, you can block the card or account and prevent fraudsters from accessing your savings. At the slightest suspicion, call the hotline of the bank that you have an account with or issued your card, and resolve the issue as quickly as possible.



How to return?

It is rare, but it does happen that the goods you ordered at the same time were already purchased by another person and are no longer in stock. Therefore, before using the online store, find out in advance the return procedure at your bank or technical support, if we are talking about electronic money.



Endpoint Protection

Do not neglect endpoint security; install a reliable antivirus on your computer or smartphone. Try not to click on pop-ups; they may be malicious!



Stay cyber-safe and enjoy your online shopping! Happy Festival Days!

&nbsp;



&nbsp;

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Online shopping has become an integral part of our modern society, and with the festive season right around the corner, we see various e-commerce portals offering attractive festive offers, driving more people to their platforms.

Online shopping has become an integral part of our modern society, and with the festive season right around the corner, we see various e-commerce portals offering attractive festive offers, driving more people to their platforms. While online shopping is bliss for humanity, the chances of becoming a victim of cyber fraud are much higher than in ordinary retail outlets. It is important to know certain rules while shopping online so that you do not lose your money, especially during this festive season. Shop only on verified sites The chance of being a victim of a fraudulent scheme is much lower on a website you already know. Those companies that have already built up their reputation and a large customer base will not take risks just for the sake of momentary quick earnings. Therefore, even during festive seasons, resist the temptation to order an item from an unknown seller offering a lower price. Festive time is not a reason to test new sellers or portals, especially the lesser-known ones with hard-to-believe offers. Special attention should be paid to domains. Often, fraudsters use well-known brands with different Top Level Domains (TLDs). You can understand this by looking at the end of the address, e.g. instead of .com it may be .in, .net or .org. Of course, such sites may offer good promotions, but there is no guarantee that you will receive the goods ordered for the promotion (usually carried out on an advance payment). In addition, the owners of such sites get access to the confidential payment information of their customers. Websites must be encrypted Don't forget to look at the start of the website address (URL) as well - a secure website always starts with https://. It is not recommended to make purchases with your banking information on sites whose address starts with http://. It’s quite possible that such sites may not be owned by a fraudster but by an honest seller. However, your payment details on such sites are prone to theft as they transit over an insecure channel. You should also stay alert in case you receive a request to send your credit card number or other details via e-mail. A normal e-store never works in this way. Password protection In well-known online stores, you'll need to create your own personal account. And here, too, you need to follow the safety rules and be creative while setting your password. It has long been known that using simple attributes such as your date of birth or car number as a password is highly vulnerable. However, there are many people who forget about it. If you can't come up with a strong password yourself, you can use a trusted password generator. This feature is available in many password managers. It uses random characters and then stores them in its own secure database. Check your financial transactions Make it a habit to regularly check the status of your cards and bank accounts through internet banking or mobile banking. Often, during the festive season, we are less attentive and relaxed, and we use our cards in unfamiliar places. Carefully check each payment, and examine invoices for payments that you did not make. By noticing such transactions in time, you can block the card or account and prevent fraudsters from accessing your savings. At the slightest suspicion, call the hotline of the bank that you have an account with or issued your card, and resolve the issue as quickly as possible. How to return? It is rare, but it does happen that the goods you ordered at the same time were already purchased by another person and are no longer in stock. Therefore, before using the online store, find out in advance the return procedure at your bank or technical support, if we are talking about electronic money. Endpoint Protection Do not neglect endpoint security; install a reliable antivirus on your computer or smartphone. Try not to click on pop-ups; they may be malicious! Stay cyber-safe and enjoy your online shopping! Happy Festival Days! WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Online shopping in festive season, be careful with offers and money transactions

For decades, there have been extensive sanctions against North Korea. Weapons, raw materials, machines, vehicles, luxury goods, chemicals&nbsp;and textiles. Almost no country in the world trades with this totalitarian regime. In the few countries with which North Korea trades, the nation rather buys than sells, putting itself more into debt internationally. The economy has been stagnating for years, with millions of people living in abject poverty. On the contrary, the supreme ruler of the country, Kim Jong Un, has magnificent monuments built, maintains a gigantic military&nbsp;and finances an expensive nuclear programme. The country's income is not enough for that—so where does all the money come from?

Insurance fraud, cyber-attacks, counterfeit money&nbsp;and modern slavery, North Korea will stop at nothing. North Korea's currency, the won, is not traded at international markets. To buy one or the other tank, you need dollars, yuan, or euros. But how can you earn a lot of money quickly and anonymously. For a long time, it was assumed that there was a separate authority in Pyongyang only for this purpose. The mysterious Room 39. Various leaks and several North Korean refugees today independently confirmed the existence of the bureau. Room 39 is supposed to raise foreign money for the regime, no matter how. At the end of the eighties, the activities of Room 39 were made public for the first time.

While the economy of North Korea is on life support, let's take a look at some infamous life support tactics harnessed by their government over decades.

Supernotes

The USD notes look insanely real, but they are not. There were so many of these notes in circulation—they were so well forged that they were called "supernotes." According to a former North Korean diplomat, they come from North Korea. The North Korean government bought some money printing machines back then, the same model that prints real dollar notes, and the printed supernotes were then given to diplomats. Until today, they were the regime's errand boys with special status, as they deposited the supernotes abroad, for example, in banks and had real dollars paid out. The real notes were then delivered back to Beijing by the case. There are probably still several million of these supernotes in circulation. Whether the money printing machines still print notes today is unclear.

Insurance fraud

In 2005 and 2006, numerous claims were received by international insurers. A helicopter crashed in Pyongyang, two trains were involved in an accident, and a ferry sank. The best part is that all of these were insured abroad. The insurance monopoly, Korea National Insurance Corporation, has received at least 58 million USD from various global insurers for helicopter crashes alone. There is much to suggest, however, that the accidents were only staged, as was reported by The Washington Post in 2009.

Weapons and T-shirts

If your t-shirt says "Made in China," there is a high probability that it was produced in North Korea. Chinese textile companies are increasingly outsourcing their production to cheap factories in North Korea, where the employees often work under inhumane conditions. Nevertheless, in your shirt, you will only find a mention of China while North Korea's export continues. Along with textiles, oil and coal are also assumed to be exported to many neighbouring countries. According to a United Nations report, North Korea also supplies weapons, mostly via international waters, especially to Africa and the Middle East. To remain undetected, the identities of the respective ships are forged, and the radio systems are manipulated. For example, Syria was supplied with at least 40 shiploads between 2012 and 2017, most likely destined for Assad's chemical weapons program. In the Syrian civil war, these chemical weapons killed many innocent people.

Modern Slavery

According to the Global Slavery Index, 2.6 million North Koreans are currently in modern-day slavery. The country most likely engages a part of its population as forced labourers, especially in China, Russia, and Southeast Asia. Some are said to have been used on European construction sites until recently.

The families are left behind to serve as hostages, and for many forced labourers, this is the only reason not to flee to freedom. The United Nations estimates that the North Korean government still receives billions of dollars in income from forced labour alone.

Cyber Attacks

North Korea is infamous for cyber-attacks globally. Not a single North Korean has access to the Internet, yet the country has a Cyber Army in which about 1800 people are supposed to be deployed. An auxiliary office is even said to have been established for this purpose—Bureau 121. In 2016, Bangladesh's central bank was hacked—several million dollars were stolen, and the FBI is convinced that North Korea was involved.

The 2017 WannaCry ransomware infected over 200,000 Windows computers in over 100 countries with the cryptoworm. The ransomware encrypted all the data on these computers and demanded a ransom of 300 USD in Bitcoin to recover the data, or else the data would remain encrypted forever. The attack group did 100 million USD worth of damage, and the American, British, and Australian governments are certain that North Korea was behind the attack.

Black markets

Many of North Korea's illegal activities have not been exclusively controlled by the government since 2000. In the nineties, there was a severe famine in which hundreds of thousands of North Koreans died. At that time, the regime failed to protect its people, and, as a consequence, numerous black markets have developed, and the government could only partially control these. The operators of these black markets often work closely with the corrupt government, and the government always turns a blind eye if a part of the money flows towards the state. On the black markets, not only food, clothes, and everyday objects are traded, but also drugs and foreign currencies.

A large part of this unofficial trade takes place in China. The border in the north is very long and much less guarded than the border with South Korea. Chinese authorities seized 60 million USD worth of drugs from North Korea in 2011. Hundreds of kilogrammes of narcotics produced in the neighbouring country are repeatedly found in China.

It's not all over.

Amid this tremendous economic crisis, Kim Jong Un believes that expanding his nuclear and missile arsenals will convince the United States to engage in "arms control talks." This will mean accepting North Korea as a nuclear power and Pyongyang receiving sanctions relief to revive its economy from life support, but the economy will still be governed by the supreme ruler of North Korea!

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

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For decades, there have been extensive sanctions against North Korea. Weapons, raw materials, machines, vehicles, luxury goods, chemicals and textiles. Almost no country in the world trades with this totalitarian regime.

For decades, there have been extensive sanctions against North Korea. Weapons, raw materials, machines, vehicles, luxury goods, chemicals and textiles. Almost no country in the world trades with this totalitarian regime. In the few countries with which North Korea trades, the nation rather buys than sells, putting itself more into debt internationally. The economy has been stagnating for years, with millions of people living in abject poverty. On the contrary, the supreme ruler of the country, Kim Jong Un, has magnificent monuments built, maintains a gigantic military and finances an expensive nuclear programme. The country's income is not enough for that—so where does all the money come from? Insurance fraud, cyber-attacks, counterfeit money and modern slavery, North Korea will stop at nothing. North Korea's currency, the won, is not traded at international markets. To buy one or the other tank, you need dollars, yuan, or euros. But how can you earn a lot of money quickly and anonymously. For a long time, it was assumed that there was a separate authority in Pyongyang only for this purpose. The mysterious Room 39. Various leaks and several North Korean refugees today independently confirmed the existence of the bureau. Room 39 is supposed to raise foreign money for the regime, no matter how. At the end of the eighties, the activities of Room 39 were made public for the first time. While the economy of North Korea is on life support, let's take a look at some infamous life support tactics harnessed by their government over decades. Supernotes The USD notes look insanely real, but they are not. There were so many of these notes in circulation—they were so well forged that they were called "supernotes." According to a former North Korean diplomat, they come from North Korea. The North Korean government bought some money printing machines back then, the same model that prints real dollar notes, and the printed supernotes were then given to diplomats. Until today, they were the regime's errand boys with special status, as they deposited the supernotes abroad, for example, in banks and had real dollars paid out. The real notes were then delivered back to Beijing by the case. There are probably still several million of these supernotes in circulation. Whether the money printing machines still print notes today is unclear. Insurance fraud In 2005 and 2006, numerous claims were received by international insurers. A helicopter crashed in Pyongyang, two trains were involved in an accident, and a ferry sank. The best part is that all of these were insured abroad. The insurance monopoly, Korea National Insurance Corporation, has received at least 58 million USD from various global insurers for helicopter crashes alone. There is much to suggest, however, that the accidents were only staged, as was reported by The Washington Post in 2009. Weapons and T-shirts If your t-shirt says "Made in China," there is a high probability that it was produced in North Korea. Chinese textile companies are increasingly outsourcing their production to cheap factories in North Korea, where the employees often work under inhumane conditions. Nevertheless, in your shirt, you will only find a mention of China while North Korea's export continues. Along with textiles, oil and coal are also assumed to be exported to many neighbouring countries. According to a United Nations report, North Korea also supplies weapons, mostly via international waters, especially to Africa and the Middle East. To remain undetected, the identities of the respective ships are forged, and the radio systems are manipulated. For example, Syria was supplied with at least 40 shiploads between 2012 and 2017, most likely destined for Assad's chemical weapons program. In the Syrian civil war, these chemical weapons killed many innocent people. Modern Slavery According to the Global Slavery Index, 2.6 million North Koreans are currently in modern-day slavery. The country most likely engages a part of its population as forced labourers, especially in China, Russia, and Southeast Asia. Some are said to have been used on European construction sites until recently. The families are left behind to serve as hostages, and for many forced labourers, this is the only reason not to flee to freedom. The United Nations estimates that the North Korean government still receives billions of dollars in income from forced labour alone. Cyber Attacks North Korea is infamous for cyber-attacks globally. Not a single North Korean has access to the Internet, yet the country has a Cyber Army in which about 1800 people are supposed to be deployed. An auxiliary office is even said to have been established for this purpose—Bureau 121. In 2016, Bangladesh's central bank was hacked—several million dollars were stolen, and the FBI is convinced that North Korea was involved. The 2017 WannaCry ransomware infected over 200,000 Windows computers in over 100 countries with the cryptoworm. The ransomware encrypted all the data on these computers and demanded a ransom of 300 USD in Bitcoin to recover the data, or else the data would remain encrypted forever. The attack group did 100 million USD worth of damage, and the American, British, and Australian governments are certain that North Korea was behind the attack. Black markets Many of North Korea's illegal activities have not been exclusively controlled by the government since 2000. In the nineties, there was a severe famine in which hundreds of thousands of North Koreans died. At that time, the regime failed to protect its people, and, as a consequence, numerous black markets have developed, and the government could only partially control these. The operators of these black markets often work closely with the corrupt government, and the government always turns a blind eye if a part of the money flows towards the state. On the black markets, not only food, clothes, and everyday objects are traded, but also drugs and foreign currencies. A large part of this unofficial trade takes place in China. The border in the north is very long and much less guarded than the border with South Korea. Chinese authorities seized 60 million USD worth of drugs from North Korea in 2011. Hundreds of kilogrammes of narcotics produced in the neighbouring country are repeatedly found in China. It's not all over. Amid this tremendous economic crisis, Kim Jong Un believes that expanding his nuclear and missile arsenals will convince the United States to engage in "arms control talks." This will mean accepting North Korea as a nuclear power and Pyongyang receiving sanctions relief to revive its economy from life support, but the economy will still be governed by the supreme ruler of North Korea! (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

The dark economy of North Korea

Author

Zee News Rajasthan

Editor

Soumak Roy

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