Question: Discuss the potential threats of cyber attack and the security framework to prevent it.
 

Answer: As the World is modernizing, it is grappling with new avenues of attack, warfare and security Before Wright Brothers invented airplane, there was no air force. Similarly, we have a new arena of virtual world, known as cyber world. This cyber world touches every aspect of human life and nation through internet, computer and other digital mediums. Therefore, potential threat of cyber attack may be more dangerous than physical attack.
 

Potential threats of cyber attack:
 

Cyber attack is an attack on computer information system, network and infrastructure through malicious programmes, viruses or worm, etc. Important point is that attackers don’t need to enter the territory of victim. He can attack from his safe home, and attackers have no risk of any kind of losses but can damage extensively. 
 

The damage due to cyber attack can be very extensive because almost everything is connected or depends on cyber world and internet. There is a big tussle going on in USA.
 

Potential threat can be imagined that even the most developed country of the world is not immune from cyber attack which was highlighted by the alleged involvement of cyber warfare to influence US’ presidential elections. 
 

Recent episodes of cyber attack like Wannacry, ransomeware, petya and many more are affecting life of individuals. In one of such attack London’s health infrastructure was affected badly. Bangladeshi money was hacked out by cyber attackers from international financial institution.
 

Financial institutions depend on digital transactions. Financial transactions and operations are prone to cyber attacks. All the services like health, education security are linked to cyber world. Thereby cyber attack has the potential to make any country to freeze and life of every citizen could be affected. All this can be done with very small cost of developing dangerous programmes. These cyber bombs are very cheap and much lethal than real physical bombs. 
 

Security framework to prevent it
 

As every part of the World is developing cyber security, India is also preparing for it. Various initiatives by India are –

• CERT-In – Indian computer emergency response team
• NTRO – National Technical Research Organisation which develops technological capabilities for cyber security National Intelligence Grid
• Cyber Swachhata Kendra – botnet clearing and malwar analysis centre
• Information Technology Act
   

All these and many other initiatives are co-ordinated through National Cyber Security Policy, 2013. CERT-In is the nodal agency for all cyber security efforts. The post of National Cyber Security Coordinator was created in 2014. All of these create a very strong cyber security framework to prevent cyber attacks. 
 

Works have been initiated to set up Indian cyber Crime Coordination centre on the recommendation of Gulshan Rai Committee. But more needs to be done in the fields of creating cyber security experts. India has very few skilled cyber security experts. However, initiatives have been taken in this direction also. India and the World need the cyber army of cyber security experts to prevent the potential threat of cyber attacks.