HPAS/Allied Mains 2022 Answer Writing Challenge Day 154 : Model Answer

QUESTION: Discuss various threats and challenges to cyber-security in Himachal Pradesh. (8 marks/ 120  words)

Answer:

Cyberspace has become the new hotspot of crime. As many as 18,000 complaints of cybercrime were received in Himachal Pradesh in the past five years (2017-2021).

Threats to cyber-security in Himachal Pradesh:

1. Malware Attack: Malware stands for malicious software. The following are types of Malware attacks

Ransomware: 

it is malware that infects a user’s files to lock them down and threaten the user of erasing the files in exchange for ransom.

Spyware:

This malware secretly records what the users do on their computer to extract important sensitive information like credit card details to maliciously use this information.

Trojans: 

This is quite a dangerous type of malware as it is disguised as legitimate software and users are tricked into uploading it on their systems. Once uploaded, Trojans corrupt the entire system or collect confidential data.

2. Phishing Attack 

Just like how it sounds, in a phishing attack, a hacker throws bait at you to grab it and when you do, they steal your sensitive confidential information like passwords, login credentials, credit card numbers, and other bank details.

 3.Password Attack 

This is one of the easiest ways to hack a system. Hackers crack the user’s password using either common passwords or trying all possible alphanumeric combinations with the help of coding. Hence, it is always recommended to set unique and strong passwords using not just alphabets and numbers but other special characters as well.

4. Social Engineering  

Social Engineering is a cyber threat that first involves human interaction. Here, people obtain personal information like phone numbers from social media and then trick and manipulate people into revealing confidential information.

Challenges of Cyber Security:

New technologies help us evolve and grow in various ways; however, they also pose new challenges to cyber security. This is because, with evolution, software constantly changes with every new update. These new modifications often introduce new issues which make the system or network vulnerable and exposed to cybercriminals. Evolving IT infrastructures involve a whole new set of designs and implementations. This results in new forms of vulnerabilities of which the organisation is usually unaware of.

Initiatives taken by the government of Himachal Pradesh:

• Cyber cells have been established in all 12 districts of the state.
• About 75 police personnel are looking after cybercrime in the state.

Conclusion: Creating awareness about cybercrime is the need of the hour.