Cyberattack Paralyzes 186 Government Sites, Halting Uttarakhand’s IT Infrastructure

A significant cyberattack has paralyzed Uttarakhand‘s IT infrastructure, halting crucial government operations for the second consecutive day. This attack, discovered during a routine scan on October 2, impacted over 186 government websites, including essential services like the Chief Minister’s Helpline, Land Registry, and the e-Office platform. According to Nikita Khandelwal, Director of the IT Development Agency (ITDA), the attack appears to involve malware that necessitated shutting down the state’s data center for a comprehensive scan to prevent further spread of the infection.

Such cyberattacks are becoming alarmingly common across India and globally, especially targeting government institutions. This is not the first time an Indian state’s digital infrastructure has been crippled by a cyberattack. In recent history, India’s critical services, including banking and energy sectors, have faced similar threats. For instance, in 2020, a suspected cyberattack on Mumbai’s power grid caused a massive blackout that affected millions, reportedly linked to China-based groups. Similarly, in 2021, around 50 Indian government websites were compromised due to security vulnerabilities, highlighting the need for stronger cybersecurity measures​.

Globally, such incidents have also been prominent. For example, Vanuatu’s entire government was crippled for nearly a month in November 2022 after a ransomware attack that disabled emails, websites, and critical systems​. Cyberattacks in the recent G20 Summit preparations further showcased the growing trend of hostile actions targeting digital infrastructures, with numerous attempts to disrupt services at rates as high as 1.6 million attacks per minute​.

Also read: Arunachal Governor Warns of Rising China Threat in Security Talks

Efforts are currently underway to restore Uttarakhand’s IT systems, with cybersecurity experts working around the clock to clean infected systems and bring back normalcy. Such attacks underline the urgent need for enhanced cybersecurity protocols and infrastructure across both state and national levels in India.