China's Massive Digital SpyOp against India
Intelligence sources revealed that recent cyberattacks on India’s critical infrastructure, from the 2021 national grid attacks to last year’s AIIMS breach, involve private players connected to Chinese servers. These third-party apps, including TikTok and PUBG, have been linked to data collection and spying for China, prompting India to ban over 200 apps.
Cybersecurity reports indicate that malware has been used to target distribution centers, with Chinese groups identified as responsible for these attacks. The AIIMS incident highlighted the need to recognize health systems as critical infrastructure, as evidence pointed to Chinese-based groups behind the breach.
Despite awareness, Indian agencies struggle to combat the data collection and surveillance facilitated by private companies. Experts warn that the data sent to Chinese servers could be exploited to manipulate or sabotage critical infrastructure, posing significant risks to national security.
Ruchin Kumar from Futurex emphasizes the need for India to implement strong data localization laws and enhance cybersecurity regulations, while fostering collaboration between the government and private sectors to effectively combat these threats.