Rising Cyber Threats in India's Digital Landscape

India is facing a whole spectrum of cyberthreats, from financial fraud and data breaches to advanced cyber-espionage campaigns.

Rising cyber threats are a major concern for India's rapidly growing digital landscape. India is a hotspot for cybercriminals employing phishing, ransomware, and social engineering tactics.

Financial institutions, e-commerce platforms, and government entities are prime targets due to their sensitive data. A dramatic increase in ransomware incidents has led to significant business disruptions ranging from a few days to a few weeks.

India is facing a 278% increase in state-sponsored cyberattacks compared to 2021, with services companies, startups, and SMEs being the most targeted. Phishing, ransomware, social engineering, and data breaches are common methods employed by attackers.

A report states, nearly 25% of cyber incidents in India involve insider threats like weak passwords or employee negligence.

The Root cause of increasing Cyber Crime includes :

AI and ML in Cybersecurity: The integration of AI and ML will be a double-edged sword – used by both cybercriminals for advanced attacks and defenders for enhanced security measures.

Cloud and AI Resources: The focus will shift to GPU Farming in the cloud, as computational resources become prime targets for cyberattacks.

Supply Chain and Infrastructure Attacks: The move towards “zero trust” models and the need for robust security protocols in supply chains will be crucial.

Cyber-insurance Evolution: Like all industries, AI is set to transform how insurance companies assess how cyber-resilient prospective customers are, and there will also be a shift to preventive measures for reduced premiums.

Weaponization of Deepfake Technology: Deepfakes are becoming a tool for manipulation and social engineering.

Persistent Phishing Threats: AI-enhanced phishing tactics may become more personalized and practical, making it even harder for individuals to identify malicious intent, leading to increased phishing-related breaches.

Businesses and individuals suffer financial losses due to data breaches, ransom demands, and disrupted operations. State-sponsored attacks can compromise critical infrastructure and sensitive information.

India faces a deficit of cybersecurity professionals, making it difficult to defend against the evolving threats. We can’t deny the fact that, there are certain critical infrastructure systems lack adequate security measures, making them vulnerable to attacks.