In contemporary times, the landscape of conflict and warfare has expanded beyond conventional battlegrounds to include the virtual domain, where nations engage in cyber warfare. This emerging form of warfare, characterized by the use of digital technology to disrupt, sabotage, or spy on an adversary’s infrastructure, is increasingly perceived as a formidable threat by defense analysts. Indeed, some argue that cyber warfare poses a greater menace than traditional threats like Al Qaeda or terrorism due to its potential to cripple critical systems and institutions without the need for physical force. In the context of India, a country rapidly advancing in technological capabilities, several cyber threats loom large, making it vulnerable to various forms of cyber attacks. These threats encompass a wide range of activities, including state-sponsored cyber espionage, cyber terrorism, ransomware attacks, and the exploitation of vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure such as power grids, financial systems, and communication networks. Furthermore, the proliferation of interconnected devices and the increasing digitization of essential services create additional avenues for potential cyber threats. Despite these challenges, India’s preparedness to counter cyber threats remains a subject of concern. While the country has taken significant strides in enhancing its cyber defense capabilities through initiatives like the National Cyber Security Policy and the establishment of agencies such as the National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC), gaps persist in areas such as cybersecurity infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, and public awareness. Strengthening cybersecurity resilience requires a multi-pronged approach encompassing robust legislative measures, investments in cybersecurity infrastructure and technology, collaboration with international partners, and raising awareness among government agencies, businesses, and the general populace. By addressing these challenges comprehensively, India can bolster its preparedness to counter the growing threat of cyber warfare and safeguard its national security interests in the digital age.
Tag: Challenges to internal security through communication network, role of media and social networking sites in internal security challenges, basic of cyber security.
Decoding the Question:
- In Intro, try to define cyber warfare.
- In Body,
- Discuss cyber warfare being the biggest threat than terrorist organizations.
- Discuss India’s vulnerability to cyber threats.
- India’s vulnerabilities and preparedness to deal with cyber warfare.
- In Conclusion, try to underline the need to build a cyber power system and the efforts made in the direction.
Answer:
Cyber warfare consists of attacks on computer systems of countries or institutions with the intention of disrupting, damaging, or destroying infrastructure. It can also be used to cause death since it refers to the techniques used during cyber war. While it involves one group’s computers attacking those of another group, the effects on the general population or critical systems can often have far-reaching ramifications.
Cyber warfare may take several different forms as follows:
- Attacks on financial infrastructure.
- Attacks on public infrastructure like dams or electrical systems.
- Attacks on safety infrastructure like traffic signals or early warning systems.
- Attacks against military resources or organizations.
India’s Vulnerability to Cyber Threats:
- Espionage: Espionage is spying on another country to steal secrets. In cyber warfare, this may involve using a botnet or spear-phishing attack to gain a foothold in a computer before extracting sensitive information.
- Sabotage: With sensitive information identified, organizations then need to determine the potential threats presented to this data. This includes third parties that may want to steal the data, competitors that could gain an advantage by stealing information and insider threats or malicious insider like disgruntled workers or negligent employees.
- Denial-of-Service Attack: A denial-of-service (DoS) attack involves flooding a website with fake requests, forcing the site to process those requests, thereby making it unavailable for legitimate users. This kind of attack could be used to cripple a critical website used by citizens, military personnel, safety personnel, scientists, or others to disrupt critical operations or systems.
- Electrical Power Grid: Hacking the electrical power grid could give an attacker the ability to disable critical systems, crippling infrastructure and causing the deaths of thousands. Further, an attack on the electrical power grid could disrupt communications, making it impossible to use services like text messaging or telecommunication.
- Propaganda: Propaganda attacks involve trying to control the minds or hearts of the people living in or fighting for the targeted country. Propaganda can be used to expose embarrassing truths or to spread lies that cause people to lose faith in their country or even sympathize with the enemy.
- Economic Disruption: Most modern economic systems depend on computers to function. Attacking the computer networks of economic facilities like stock markets, payment systems, or banks can give hackers access to funds or prevent their targets from getting the money needed to live or engage in cyber or other warfare.
- Surprise Cyber Attack: These refer to the kinds of cyber-attacks that would have an effect similar to Pearl Harbour or 9/11; massive strikes that catch the enemy off guard, weakening their defences. They could be used to weaken the opponent in preparation for a physical attack as a form of hybrid warfare.
- China factors: China has a cyber warfare force which carries various cyber attacks against other countries and especially India. Recently, before, during and after the Ladakh standoff, China has been carrying out cyber-attack against India, which is a kind of undeclared warfare against India. For example, they targeted Mumbai and made a complete blackout last year.
India’s preparedness to tackle cyber warfare threat can be understood in following manner:
- A Defence Cyber Agency could be the first step the government plans for critical infrastructure and military networks that are increasingly becoming dependent on the Internet, thus increasing vulnerabilities.
- India released its National Cybersecurity Policy (NCSP) in 2013. This very comprehensive document deals with almost all facets of cyber security.
Efforts taken to build a Cyber Power System:
- The government, very recently, has accorded approval for the raising of a Defence Cyber Agency (DCyA). It is felt that, at best, this is a half-hearted attempt, keeping in mind the threats and India’s geopolitical role.
- The task force recommends that the formation of DCyA be taken as an intermediate step towards the formation of a full-fledged Cyber Formation or Cyber Command over the next three years and concurrently develop capabilities for full spectrum Information Warfare with cyber power as one of its major constituents.
- Provide offensive cyber options, to be implemented on approval as force multipliers for other operations. This would include covert operations:
- Synergising cyber intelligence with Signals Intelligence, Electronic Intelligence (ELINT), Human Intelligence (HUMINT) and operational security for a comprehensive threat analysis in the information warfare domain.
- Plan and execute cyber deception.
- Seven Pillars for Capacity Building of Cyber Power of Indian Armed Forces:
- Policy and Strategy for Development and Employment of Cyber Power.
- Indian Armed Forces Doctrine for Application of Cyber Power and Information Operations
- Organisation for Cyber Deterrence, Synergy, Staffing and Adaptation of Cyber Force.
- Human Resource, Training and Certification.
- Technology, R&D, Standards, and Integrity of Data.
- Integration and Development of Concepts for Application of Cyber Power for effective Cyber Deterrence.
- International Engagement and Legal Framework.
There is an urgent requirement to enunciate our national cyber power policy and doctrine, build ‘Cyber Power as a System’ to meet India’s security needs and integrate it with other warfighting domains to guard against the full spectrum of threats.
In case you still have your doubts, contact us on 9811333901.
For UPSC Prelims Resources, Click here
For Daily Updates and Study Material:
Join our Telegram Channel – Edukemy for IAS
- 1. Learn through Videos – here
- 2. Be Exam Ready by Practicing Daily MCQs – here
- 3. Daily Newsletter – Get all your Current Affairs Covered – here
- 4. Mains Answer Writing Practice – here
