Sunday, September 20, 2020

Military standoff apart, India, China brace up for cyber-warfare

India is strengthening its capacity to deal with cyber-attacks given growing threats from China and the prospects of algorithmic warfare.

Although India’s cyber command under Rear Admiral Mohit Gupta became operational in November 2019, experts fear that the recent military stalemate along its borders with China may blow to non-contact or algorithmic warfare.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, India’s former Director-General of Military Operations retired Lt. Gen. Vinod Bhatia apprehended that there may be a shift to non-contact warfare between the two countries.

“It is a stalemate on the ground. The domain, in this case, may shift to non-contact warfare without changing the stance on the ground. Thus, we will also have our defenses ready when it comes to non-contact warfare including cyberattacks,” he said.

According to a recent National Cyber Power Index report published by Harvard University’s Belfer Center, China ranks second, after the US, in cyber power. The report has identified seven national objectives that countries pursue using cyber means including surveillance, foreign intelligence collection, and cyber defenses.

“Countries with high levels of both intent and capability for a specific objective are among the highest-ranking countries in the NCPI. These countries both signal in strategies and previously attributed cyber-attacks that they intend to use cyber to achieve policy goals and have the capabilities to achieve them” stated the report.

About China’s growing cyber power, Bhatia counted it a viable threat to India and thus argued that cyber defense is integral and has now become a priority area.

A recent investigation by a national English language daily The Indian Express revealed that China is monitoring the online activities of at least 1,350 Indians, including key politicians and some high-profile individuals in the country. The list includes former presidents, prime ministers, key businessmen, and even Bollywood actors.

“In the Overseas Key Information Database (OKIDB) developed by the Shenzhen information technology firm with links to the Chinese government and the Communist Party, politicians account for the largest group of high-profile individuals being monitored through their online presence,” stated the newspaper.

Responding to these reports, External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said the government has constituted an expert committee under the National Cyber Security Coordinator to study these reports and evaluate their implications.



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