Achive.php May 13, 2025 - The Cyber Shark
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Archives for May 13, 2025

Chandigarh Launches Cyber Wellness Clinic to Combat Rising Cybercrime

Chandigarh

Chandigarh’s NITTR has launched the Cop Connect Cyber Wellness Clinic to combat rising cybercrime, offering training and awareness programs, and support for citizens and law enforcement. Backed by Zscaler and ISAC, the clinic aims to build a safer digital future through education and prevention. May 12: The National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research (NITTR) in Sector 26 opened the Cop Connect Cyber Wellness Clinic on April 30, 2025, in a significant effort to shield Chandigarh from the growing threat of cybercrime. A vital resource for citizens, educators, students, and law enforcement in the battle against online threats like phishing, identity theft, and QR code scams, this state-of-the-art facility is supported by Zscaler’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative and in partnership with the Information Sharing and Analysis Centre (ISAC). NITTR Chandigarh, a pillar of technical education, was founded in 1967 under the Ministry of Education with an initial emphasis on polytechnic training throughout northern India. It is now a renowned university with programs in engineering, technology, and educational management, as well as international partnerships and a reputation as a centre for research. The Cop Connect Cyber Wellness Clinic strengthens NITTR’s dedication to digital safety after a similar project at Punjab University on March 4, 2025, proved successful. The core of this effort is Zscaler, a pioneer in worldwide cloud security that Jay Chaudhry launched in 2007. Millions are protected by Zscaler’s Zero Trust Exchange platform, which has offices in Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Mohali, and Pune in addition to seven data centres in India. Its Social Impact Program empowers marginalised areas by advancing digital equity and cyber education. “Building a secure digital future for everyone is the goal of our collaboration with NITTR and ISAC,” Karishma Bhuyan, CSR Lead at Zscaler, stated during the launch. India is the #1 target for AI-powered cyberattacks in Asia Pacific, according to the Zscaler ThreatLabz Phishing Report 2025. Cybercriminals never stop, from hidden links in images to phoney QR code schemes. Chilling local trends were given by Chandigarh Cyber Cell SP Smt. Geetanjali Khandelwal: “Scammers are targeting expectant fathers with fake semen donation schemes, tricking them into scanning malicious QR codes.” Senior persons are identified as the primary focus of Chandigarh Police’s cyber vans and surveys conducted with NCC cadets, underscoring the critical need for awareness. A comprehensive resource for preventing common cybercrimes is the Cop Connect Cyber Wellness Clinic. It offers 26 ISAC-certified programs, practical training at ISAC’s Cyberagent Cybersecurity Labs, and awareness sessions on fraud and cyber threats. In order to develop their abilities for cybersecurity careers—an area that is expected to need millions of workers in the years to come, according to Cyber Crime Magazine—participants can use technologies like Breach Point, EthixFirst, and the National Security Database. The clinic also provides officers with specialised training in cybercrime investigation, which improves law enforcement’s capacity to react. The clinic’s technical rigor is guaranteed by ISAC, a non-profit organization that works with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Defence, AICTE, CERT-In, and IIT Gandhinagar. Its platforms offer useful resources, including as ethical frameworks and bug bounty schemes. “This initiative empowers communities to face digital challenges head-on,” ISAC Group Captain P. Anand Naidu stated. The clinic is open Monday through Saturday from 9 AM to 5 PM and is available to victims of cybercrime and anybody seeking advice on digital safety. Additionally, it provides law enforcement with cutting-edge training in cybercrime investigation. Need assistance right away? For prompt assistance, you can get in touch with Cybercrime Intervention Officers immediately through the free ISAC Cop Connect App. With 3.5 million cybersecurity professionals needed and Cyber Crime Magazine projecting that global cybercrime expenses will reach $10.5 trillion yearly by 2025, this program positions Chandigarh as a leader in creating a safe online environment. This partnership between Zscaler, ISAC, and NITTR is revolutionary. Join Chandigarh in the fight for a safe digital future by visiting the Cop Connect Cyber Wellness Clinic and arming yourself with knowledge. Don’t hesitate—remain vigilant and secure!

Pakistan-Backed Hackers Launch 15 Lakh Cyberattacks on India; Only 150 Succeed

Pakistan-Backed Hackers

Pakistan-backed hacker groups launched over 15 lakh cyberattacks on Indian infrastructure, with only 150 being successful, according to Maharashtra Cyber. The attacks, linked to Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the Middle East, also involved disinformation campaigns and website vandalism. Mumbai: In the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, Maharashtra Cyber has identified seven Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) organisations that carried out more than 15 lakh attacks against vital infrastructure websites throughout India. Officials said only 150 of these strikes were successful on 12 May 2025. They claimed that despite an agreement between India and Pakistan to halt military conflict, the neighbouring nation, Bangladesh, and the Middle East continue to launch cyberattacks against Indian government websites. Speaking to reporters, a top Maharashtra Cyber official refuted allegations that hackers had targeted the Election Commission website, compromised aviation and municipal systems, and stolen data from Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaja International Airport. The investigation found that, although they did not completely halt, cyberattacks on Indian government websites declined as India-Pakistan tensions subsided. Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Morocco, and other Middle Eastern nations are still launching these attacks,” he claimed. The state’s nodal cyber agency described the cyberwarfare carried out by hacker organisations affiliated with Pakistan in a paper titled “Road of Sindoor,” which was created as part of the military campaign against terrorists that the Indian armed forces launched under the same name. All of the major law enforcement organizations, including the State Intelligence Department and the Director General of Police, have received the report. The Middle East, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and an Indonesian organization were the sources of these cyberattacks, according to the assessment, stated Yashasvi Yadav, Additional Director General of Police, Maharashtra Cyber. The techniques employed included GPS spoofing, Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks, and malware campaigns. There have also been reports of Indian websites being vandalised. According to him, India’s vital infrastructure was spared, and other such attempts were stopped. Maharashtra Cyber’s previous report, “Echoes of Pahalgam,” which detailed cyberattacks in the wake of the Pahalgam terror incident, is followed up on by “Road of Sindoor.” APT 36 (headquartered in Pakistan), Pakistan Cyber Force, Team Insane PK, Mysterious Bangladesh, Indo Hacks Sec, Cyber Group HOAX 1337, and National Cyber Crew (affiliated with Pakistan) are the seven hacker groups mentioned in the report. According to Yadav, these organisations combined carried out almost 1.5 million focused cyberattacks against Indian infrastructure. The website of the Kulgaon Badlapur Municipal Council was vandalised, one of the 150 successful attacks. Additionally, the attackers claimed to have stolen data from telecom businesses and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaja International Airport (CSMIA), some of which was purportedly found on the dark net. The Defence Nursing College’s Jalandhar website was also vandalised. According to the research, groups with ties to Pakistan are using a hybrid warfare strategy that involves extensive disinformation efforts. These organisations made exaggerated claims that they had compromised India’s banking system and disrupted power. More than 5,000 instances of false information and fake news on the armed disputes between India and Pakistan were found and eliminated by Maharashtra Cyber from social media. Thirty-five of the 80 particular misinformation cases that were reported for removal have already been removed, and the other forty-five are still pending. According to Yadav, these bogus narratives included allegations of satellite jamming, state-wide blackouts, cyberattacks on India’s power infrastructure, interruption of the Northern Command, and an alleged strike on a BrahMos missile storage facility. According to him, Maharashtra Cyber has advised people to check news from reliable and authentic sources and to avoid believing or disseminating false information.