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The Growing Threat: Cyberwarfare in the Shadows of Indo-Pak Tensions

 

‘Hillary can’t dance anymore’.

The recent Indo-Pak aggression sparked a widespread discussion about the ‘Dance of The Hillary’ malware and the adversary's attempt at cyber warfare.

 

Understanding Cyberwarfare

Cyberwarfare can be an effort undertaken by an enemy state using cyberspace to attack vital computer systems and disrupt information systems, networks, and online working in that state. Cyberwarfare is a new type of war that bolsters the position of the forward participant in the race of cyberspace and technology. Cyberwarfare has become the latest trend while fighting wars, as almost everything is present and dependent on the internet. Regardless of how physically strong a person may be, everyone is vulnerable on the internet—whether it's their data, financial information, or any other digital asset that could become a target for Cyber Extortion.

As soon as the tussle between India and Pakistan began on May 8th, speculations about a cyberattack being launched by Pakistan also started to surface. This incident demonstrated how formidable cyberwarfare can be.

 

Subterfuge To Panic

The tsunami around Pakistan led to a cyber threat initiated with a WhatsApp message, which included manipulative language, heightened claims and a risk of pertinent threat or doom; it said that the malware was targeting WhatsApp, Facebook and E-mails to steal your banking details, passwords and would give access of your device to the enemy. This message, drafted with such technical words, sounded genuine to a prudent person, even professionals, but was nothing short of an attempt at subterfuge, as confirmed by the Press Information Bureau upon fact-checking. It was found that this malware news was only spread to spawn trepidation among anyone who received it.

Interestingly, this Dance of the Hillary malware isn't new. It has been around since 2011 and made headlines in 2016-2017, clearly meaning that its resurfacing was a clear attempt to create panic.

 

Indispensable Cyber Hygiene

The difference between spreading misinformation about a malware infection and launching an actual malware attack is Capability; while the adversary might not have been capable enough, general cyber awareness is essential in case a computer network faces a cyberattack.

  • Do not open any attachments sent to E-mail, SMS, WhatsApp, or any social media from an unknown account. It can be a PDF, a video file, or any extension asking the person to install something. 
  • Many apps have an auto-download feature, which, although convenient, can cause a computer system to fall prey to a cyberattack.
  •  Cyberattacks commonly use phishing, smishing, and vishing to hack a computer system. If you receive any unknown communication, report it on https://sancharsaathi.gov.in. 
  • A widely believed misconception is that regularly updating your software slows down the speed of the operating system. While it only amounts to inculcating new features in your device, updates also tend to overhaul security bugs present in a device, restricting possible entry for malware.
  • Enable Two Factor Authentication. 
  • A widely believed misconception is that regularly updating your software slows down the speed of the operating system. While it only amounts to inculcating new features in your device, updates also tend to overhaul security bugs present in a device, restricting possible entry for malware.
________________________________________________
~ Purav Garg
Research Associate, WCSF
B.Com LLB (H), UILS, Chandigarh








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