&imwidth=800&imheight=600&format=webp&quality=medium "Indian govt orders removal of 3 Chinese apps used to remotely stop e-rickshaws")
The government has directed authorities to take down three mobile applications that are reportedly being misused to remotely switch off e-rickshaws or battery-operated vehicles while they are on the roads. The apps - BAT-BMS, Lossigy, and Epoch-i-ion, have been ordered to be taken down, with officials warning that any other similar apps found to be misused will also be blocked.
The move follows growing concerns after videos surfaced online showing individuals approaching moving e-rickshaws and shutting them down using these apps. One of the apps, Lossigy, reportedly allows users to locate a nearby electric vehicle and disable it with a single tap. The app was tested with the consent of an e-rickshaw driver and was successfully used to stop the vehicle.
Drivers said the vulnerability has existed for years but has gained attention recently after social media videos of people remotely halting e-rickshaws went viral. The apps reportedly exploit Bluetooth-based systems that, in some cases, do not require passwords or authentication. As a result, anyone within Bluetooth range can download the app, connect to a nearby vehicle and cut off its power with a single tap.
IT Secretary reacts
In response to the development, IT Secretary S Krishnan said at a Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Cybersecurity Summit on Friday that action had been taken soon after the applications came to the attention of the government. “That is right…there are a couple of apps which came to our notice yesterday and both of them have been taken down from the app stores,” PTI quoted Krishnan as saying.
Trending Stories
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
National Handloom Day 2026: From Alia Bhatt to Samantha Ruth Prabhu; Actresses who celebrated India's textile heritage as brides
)
The Royals enter the Doctor Who universe: King Charles and Queen Camilla beam into Commonwealth Games in TARDIS
)
Unitree Robotics targets $9 billion valuation in landmark IPO backed by DeepSeek and Tencent
)
India names 27 sites in Arunachal Pradesh
)
Bharat Bhhagya Viddhaata OTT: When will Kangana Ranaut's film stream online?
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
How many soldiers operate one S-400 battery?
)
Shakib Al Hasan ready to return to Bangladesh—under one condition
)
‘Fake news’: MEA rejects report claiming India sought defence pact with Israel after Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey deal
)
Rockstar to unveil GTA 6 extended look ahead of November launch
)
Russia forms Ukrainian Volunteer Spetsnaz Brigade to fight Ukraine
)
Drug-resistant fungus that hides in hair and enters bloodstream reported in 23 US states
)
Technology transfer deal boosts India's defence manufacturing ambitions
)
Border row erupts in Europe after Ceuta crossings, Spain imposes border controls on Italy
)
Morale plummets on USS Abraham Lincoln: Are US sailors reaching a breaking point? | GRAVITAS
)
'Security can't be bought with Pakistan, Turkey deal': Iran tells Saudi Arabia
)
Baba Vanga's 2026 prophecy: 2 predictions 'already came true', 3 terrifying ones remain. Details inside
)
Colombia’s new president Abelardo de la Espriella vows to ‘defeat narco-terrorists’, signals hardline shift
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New Friday OTT releases (August 7, 2026): Operation Safed Sagar, Vadhandhi, Main Vaapis Aaunga- 6 movies and TV shows on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
Squadron Leader Bhawana Kanth scripts history as Indian Air Force gets its first woman ‘Top Gun’ pilot
)
RSS says Gen Z protests reflect genuine distress
)
Trump says Iranian school bombing photos could be AI-generated - 'I don’t think...'
)
IAF officer held for sharing sensitive information in 'honey trap' case, booked under Official Secrets Act
)
Stray Kids under scrutiny? Fans react to Grammy submission silence after BTS boycott
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI doesn't need external fuel tanks to fly vast distances
)
Jugal Hansraj reunites with Shekhar Kapur after 40 years for Masoom: The Next Generation
)
New speed limits, automatic challans: Big traffic change coming to Delhi-Meerut Expressway. All you need to know
)
India officially names 27 places in Arunachal to counter China's renaming claims
)
Trump calls White House ballroom ruling a 'national disgrace' as court says Congress approval needed
)
US sanctions Iran’s crypto network after Strait of Hormuz attacks, offers $15m bounty for intel on IRGC finance
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the Su-30MKI is one of the heaviest fighters ever built
)
Uttarakhand young innovator builds India's own flying vehicle, conducts first test flight: WATCH
)
Chilling video shows students take cover as teen opens fire at Thai school
)
Reese Witherspoon's father hospitalised after poolside incident in Nashville: Report
Krishnan added that the recent move also underscored the need for stronger checks before applications live through digital marketplaces. He also indicated that the government would be involved with app store operators in order to provide greater scrutiny of software that could pose security risks or be misused.
Officials have not claimed that the applications were designed with malicious intent. Instead, they are investigating whether their functions were misused due to inadequate security measures in certain battery management systems installed in low-cost electric vehicles.
