thecybershark, Author at The Cyber Shark

Hyderabad Cybercrime Police File Case Against X User for Offensive Post on CM Revanth Reddy

Hyderabad cybercrime police filed a case against X user “DigtvTelugu” for posting a morphed, offensive image targeting Telangana CM Revanth Reddy. The complaint alleges the post aimed to defame and provoke public hatred. Hyderabad: A social media user has been charged with a crime by the Hyderabad cybercrime police for allegedly posting derogatory and altered content directed against Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy. The problem arose after Kailash Sajjan, state secretary of the social media division of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC), formally complained on April 29, 2025. The lawsuit alleges that an account on X (previously Twitter) with the handle “DigtvTelugu” shared an altered photo of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy in a way that was deemed “objectionable.” Other Congress leaders, like Telangana Food and Supplies Corporation chairman Fahim Qureshi, were also featured in the tweet, which had captions making fun of the politicians. Sajjan claimed that the information was circulated with “malicious intent to defame the CM and the Congress party” and called it “fake, morphed, vulgar, abusive, and derogatory.” Additionally, he asserted that the account holder is a “habitual troublemaker” who seeks to foment anti-government sentiment. The cybercrime police filed a case based on the complaint under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Sections 353(2) (statements conducive to public mischief), 336(4) (forgery to hurt reputation), and 352 deliberate insult intended to cause a disturbance of the peace. Police said they would write to X to get information on the person who posted the material.

Pakistani groups’ cyberattacks on four defence facilities were stopped

Cyberattacks by the Pakistan group “Internet of Khilafah” targeted four Indian defence-related websites but were swiftly thwarted without compromising sensitive networks. The attacks aimed to disrupt services and steal data amid rising tensions post the Pahalgam terror attack. There have been reports of cyberattacks on the websites of four armed forces-related organisations amid the heightened tensions between India and Pakistan. According to government authorities, Pakistan was the source of the cyberattacks. Four related incidents, including cyberattacks on the websites of the Army Public School in Srinagar and Ranikhet that targeted both sites with inflammatory propaganda and a distributed denial of service attack against the Srinagar school, were confirmed by intelligence assessments, according to Army sources. They might create distributed denial of service and vandalize the homepage. However, the web management promptly fixed it, according to a source. According to the source, there was also an attempt to penetrate the Indian Air Force Placement Organisation webpage and a breach of the Army Welfare Housing Organisation database. “No operational or secret networks were impacted at any point; all four locations were quickly isolated, and restorative action was performed. The source claims that efforts by cyber actors with their headquarters located in Pakistan to violate Indian cyber sovereignty have once again failed. The source noted that after mission-critical national networks were determined to be impregnable, these attacks on publicly accessible welfare and educational websites seemed to have been executed. According to intelligence assessments, the attacks were carried out by a group known as the “Internet of Khilafah” or “IOK Hacker,” and its goals were to capture personal information, disrupt online services, and deface websites. The source claimed that these attempts demonstrated the adversary’s capabilities as well as its intent, noting that “India’s layered cyber-security architecture detected the intrusions in real time and quickly traced their origin to Pakistan.” Even as Pakistan continues to redeploy troops and heavy military equipment along the border, firing by small arms along the Line of Control (Loc) has been reported over the past five days, adding to the tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours following the Pahalgam terror attack on 22 April 2025. Furthermore, social media has also seen a surge in tensions and propaganda.

Tackling cyber frauds: Finance Ministry includes I4C under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act for information sharing

The Finance Ministry has empowered I4C to share information under the PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act), enhancing coordination with the Enforcement Directorate to combat cyber fraud. This move aims to trace money trails and crack down on rising transnational cyber scams targeting citizens. According to the anti-money laundering law, the government has given the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) permission to communicate with the Enforcement Directorate and receive information to identify money trails and stop cyber scams. The Home Ministry created I4C to serve as the primary hub for reducing cybercrime in the nation. I4C seeks to strengthen collaboration between various law enforcement agencies and stakeholders to increase India’s overall ability to tackle cybercrime. In compliance with Section 66 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the Finance Ministry’s Revenue Department added I4C in a notification dated April 25. As a result, I4C was able to communicate with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and other law enforcement organisations more easily. This information sharing would help identify the masterminds behind the international cyber frauds that target the general public and are becoming more and more common. Phishing websites, false social media identities, and sponsored search engine advertisements are all being used in these types of online scams. These con artists also send an OTP or a webpage link to a victim’s email or phone. The victim’s phone or computer is compromised when they share the OTP or click on the link. The government has requested that individuals use the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal at cybercrime.gov.in or call 1930 in the event of fraud to report such websites.

Google Notebook LM AI podcast expands to more languages, including Hindi

Google has expanded its Notebook LM AI podcast feature, Audio Overviews, to support over 50 languages, including Hindi, Marathi, Urdu, Maithili, and Konkani. The tool uses Gemini’s multimodal AI to convert complex texts into podcast-style conversations, making learning more accessible. More languages are now supported by Google’s Audio Overviews function in Notebook LM, the AI-powered note-taking and research tool. More than 50 other languages are currently supported by the feature, including major Indian languages like Hindi, Maithili, Konkani, Urdu, and Marathi. According to the business, this multilingual capability is made possible by multimodal Gemini’s inbuilt audio support. The change was revealed in a blog post by the US-based software corporation. The whole public can now use the functionality. Overviews of Google Notebook LM Audio: How it Operates Imagine a scenario in which a user comes across a complicated paper or article and finds it challenging to understand. In this scenario, the user can utilise the Audio Overviews capability and submit the content to Google Notebook LM. The uploaded content will be converted by the AI into a dialogue between two AI-generated hosts, like a podcast. Rather than reading the material out loud, the hosts engage the audience in conversation while breaking down complex ideas as needed. This method makes learning more approachable and helps to simplify complex information. The resulting audio transformed a four-minute read into a nine-minute podcast when Business Standard tested the function with one of its articles on direct-to-mobile (D2M) phones. The audio sounded human because the two AI hosts spoke naturally, pausing and stuttering realistically. In order to customise the podcast to their requirements, customers could also designate the topic of the discussion. Audio Overviews are now accessible in over 50 languages thanks to this upgrade. Google first expanded Notebook LM to more than 200 countries last year. Overviews of Google Notebook LM Audio: How to Use Go to the Google Notebook LM official website. Select “Create New.” You can use Google Drive to upload your work by copying and pasting text or by pasting a link. Select “Generate” from the “Audio Overview” menu. Listen to the podcast that the AI created using your content.

Rajasthan Education Department Website Hacked by Alleged ‘Pakistan Cyber Force

The Rajasthan Education Department’s website was hacked on April 29, 2025, displaying provocative messages allegedly from the “Pakistan Cyber Force.” Authorities have launched an investigation, while experts call for urgent cybersecurity reforms amid rising attacks on government digital assets. JAIPUR: On 29 April 2025, a cyberattack targeting the Rajasthan Education Department’s official webpage changed the homepage to show some divisive messages posing as the “Pakistan Cyber Force.” In one of the letters, the Pahalgam terror attack was described as an “inside job,” meaning it was orchestrated from within. Another person called the incident a “false flag by the Indian government, designed to incite conflict and religious division.” Additionally, the hackers made derogatory remarks on Himanshi Narwal, the late Lieutenant Vinay Narwal’s widow, whose picture sitting next to her husband’s body was recently widely shared on social media. Shortly after the breach was discovered, the department’s website was removed. In reaction to the cyberattack, Education Minister Madan Dilawar declared, “The Education Department’s IT wing has been activated.” The website has been taken down for the time being, and recovery work is moving quickly. We have also reported the incident to cybersecurity agencies. To determine the group behind the cyber attack and the degree of the damage, an enquiry has been started. “At this time, there is no proof that any private information has been disclosed. To guarantee the security and integrity of our data, a thorough audit of every system is being carried out,” he continued. Experts Demand Immediate Reforms in Cybersecurity The persistent exploitation of government digital assets has sparked concerns from cyber specialists. They estimate that fraudsters have taken over more than 20 lakh pages connected to state departments nationwide. It is estimated that more than 8 lakh of these pages—including some from the Home Department and district-level police units—have been hacked in Rajasthan alone. Experts emphasise the urgent need for strong digital security frameworks and improved monitoring to safeguard government web infrastructure in light of the growing sophistication and frequency of cyberattacks.

Kashmiri Engineering Student in Mumbai Duped of Rs 4.30 Lakh in Online Task Fraud

A 20-year-old Kashmiri engineering student in Mumbai was duped of Rs 4.30 lakh by cybercriminals through a “task fraud” scheme. The student filed a complaint with Matunga Police after being repeatedly asked for money under the guise of security deposits. April 23, Mumbai (PTI) According to city police on Wednesday, a 20-year-old engineering student from Jammu and Kashmir was defrauded of Rs 4.30 lakh by cybercriminals in a “task fraud.” According to an official, the student, who resides in the college dorm in Matunga, received a WhatsApp message from an unknown number introducing herself as “Pallavi Jha.” She gave the victim a “task,” informing him that he could submit online evaluations and make between Rs 2,000 and Rs 8,000 a day. According to the official, he was first paid for finishing the work after accepting the proposal and being connected to a Telegram channel. Later on, however, he was given more responsibility and requested to provide security, so he periodically deposited a total of Rs 4.30 lakhs.

Reddit Answers’ Debuts in India: AI Summaries and Smarter Searches Now Live

“Reddit Answers” in India, an AI-powered tool that offers users curated summaries, topic suggestions, and conversational responses. The platform aims to boost engagement by integrating AI into search and plans further expansion in India with a local office in Bengaluru. On April 24, 2025, Reddit Answers, a new AI service, was introduced in India. In addition to offering users curated summaries of pertinent comments and previous postings, the tool assists users in asking inquiries. Only a few users had access to the capability, which has been in testing since December 2024. The company’s homepage now features a new button that leads to the AI-powered search tool, which is now more widely accessible. Similar to how users might engage with Chatgpt, Perplexity, or other AI chatbots, clicking this button directs them to a page where they can pose inquiries to the AI. How Reddit Answers work Instead of directing users to Google to look for posts, the function aims to keep them on the platform. Reddit is setting Reddit Answers apart from other AI-based chatbots in this way. For instance, Reddit Answers’ conversational tool will provide a summary of the most recent Bollywood news in bullet points if a user queries the platform, “What is the latest Bollywood gossip?” Additionally, it will suggest related topics and subreddits on the same subject. Google’s AI Overview, which now shows up at the top of some Google search results, is quite similar to the structure of Reddit Answers. The social media site has been attempting to challenge conventional search engines by further integrating artificial intelligence into its search feature. Another instance would be if a person inquired, “I’m going to Kolkata.” Which locations offer the greatest authentic Bengali thali? The AI-powered feature highlights must-try dishes, summarises suggested locations, and gives links to original publications. Reddit Answers outperforms Google when it comes to complex topics with different points of view. One of the primary distinctions between the two search engines is this. For instance, when questioned, “What are the advantages and disadvantages of residing in Gurugram?” Reddit Answers presents viewpoints from both sides, highlighting five advantages and five disadvantages. Links to one or two pertinent Reddit posts on the subject are included with each point. Reddit and Google announced a partnership last month, aiming to use the Gemini tool to help users find answers quickly and enhance search relevance. Reddit has over 100,000 online communities and 400 million weekly active users. Reddit went public earlier last year. During an October earnings call, Reddit CEO Steve Huffman referred to search as “a key part of the strategy” for the firm, pointing out that an increasing percentage of users were relying on Google to find material on Reddit. By boosting platform traffic in recent months, Google has helped Reddit’s spectacular growth by attracting a significant number of new members. Since its inception in 2005, Reddit has offered its members free access to the network; however, it now intends to impose a paywall on certain material. Reddit is now looking to India for growth, even though the US is still one of its biggest markets. According to reports earlier this year, Reddit was considering hiring a local staff and opening an office in Bengaluru in order to reach a new audience of users.

Pahalgam Attack: Cybersecurity Warning Is Issued to Protect Digital Assets Following Hacker Attack in Pakistan

The Pahalgam Attack, a Pakistani hacker group, Team Insane PK, vandalised the Army College of Nursing website, prompting a nationwide cybersecurity alert in India. Authorities warn of potential future attacks targeting critical infrastructure as part of a broader cyberwarfare strategy. The Indian government has issued a cybersecurity alert after a hacking group based in Pakistan targeted the Army College of Nursing following an attempt to compromise the G20 website. All government ministries, departments, and organizations have been directed to strengthen their cyber defenses to prevent such incursions. According to sources, the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) has prepared an internal assessment following the most recent cyberattack, which occurred soon after the Pahalgam terror assault. As part of a larger cyberwarfare plan, the agency believes that further cyberattacks, especially on critical infrastructure, may be on the horizon. All departments are advised by a reviewed alert to improve their cybersecurity procedures immediately. They have been told to put strong security measures in place and adhere to Cyber Hygiene Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) in order to stop unauthorized access and data breaches. The Army College of Nursing’s homepage was vandalised on April 25 by the hacking collective Team Insane PK, which is based in Pakistan. The headline said, “You are hacked!” and also included images of the latest Pahalgam massacre and militant Burhan Wani. “Our religion, customs, and beliefs are miles apart—and that makes us stronger,” the hackers added in a provocative message. The two-nation hypothesis is true; it was not merely a theory. You are Hindu, and we are Muslims. Allah is with us. You will die because of your religion, not because it will save you. Said, we are too strong and superior. Authorities view this as a psychological warfare approach meant to undermine Indian institutions, in addition to being a felony. The origin and network of the hacker organisation are being investigated, and attempts are being made to track them down.

Pimpri-Chinchwad Cops Nab Duo in Multinational Cyber Scam Involving ₹2.5 Crore Fraud

Pimpri-Chinchwad cyber police arrested two individuals for supplying mule bank accounts used in a ₹2.52 crore share market scam targeting a senior citizen. The network involved links to cybercriminals from Dubai, Pakistan, and other countries, using accounts sourced from vulnerable individuals. On April 22, 2025, officials said that two people had been arrested by the Pimpri-Chinchwad police’s cyber division for giving mule bank accounts to two scammers, one from Dubai and one from Pakistan. On March 24, police say a senior citizen who retired from the state irrigation department lost ₹2.52 crore in a share market scam. On social media, the accused, who subsequently testified before the police, contacted the complainant and assured him of substantial financial returns. When the elderly man realised he had been tricked, he went to the police. One Balasaheb Sakharam Chaure from Kaij in the Beed district has already been taken into custody by the cyber police in this case. “Further investigation showed that some of the fraud money was received in a bank account operating from Sangli,” stated Pravin Swami, assistant police inspector of the Pimpri-Chinchwad police’s cyber cell. Consequently, our teams hurried to Sangli and arrested Amol Patil, who had transferred 6% of Yunus Dilawar Chaughule’s bank account to him. On April 17, both defendants were taken into custody in Sangli. Yunus Dilawar owns and operates a mobile store. A man from Madhya Pradesh was contacted by both of the arrested suspects, according to additional research. During their time in Madhya Pradesh, they worked together. Police believe Yunus Dilawar was assigned to obtain bank accounts from Sangli and transfer them to the Madhya Pradesh-based individual. To yet, Yunus has given the Madhya Pradesh-based man access to eight or ten of these bank accounts, for which he has paid ₹2 to ₹2.5 lakh in fees. The Madhya Pradesh suspect is being sought, according to the police. The investigation found that Ganesh Kale was from Dubai and Chaure was a member of a cybercrime group commanded by a Pakistani individual. Chaure in the Marathwada area used to give the two mule bank accounts. When he first met Chaure, Kale was employed as an MLM (multilevel marketing) executive. Kale and the Pakistani national persuaded Chaure to grant them commission-based mule bank accounts. Chaure has collected ₹2.5 lakh in commission and has so far transferred 15 to 20 mule bank accounts from the Marathwada region. To open these bank accounts, he used to get official documentation from labourers, drivers, and uneducated people. Additionally, he had communication with cybergangs based in Nepal, Dubai, and other countries, according to Assistant Inspector Pravin Swami of the Pimpri-Chinchwad police cyber cell.

Google-Kantar study presents a cautiously positive view of India’s adoption of Gen AI

A Google-Kantar study highlights growing interest in Generative AI in India, though challenges in awareness and usability persist. Google’s push for localised language support, simpler interfaces, and device integration aims to make its Gemini AI more accessible across diverse user groups. The country’s use of Generative AI (Genai) is changing, according to a recent study by Google and Kantar India. Although interest in the technology is growing, there are still several barriers to entry, particularly in the areas of knowledge and usability. Early users of Google’s Gemini platform, however, are citing significant advantages, pointing to a possible route for broader adoption if these obstacles can be removed. Google is aggressively seeking to increase capabilities and streamline access. The study includes more than 8,000 in-person interviews from various town classes in 18 cities between November 2024 and March 2025. Men and women from socioeconomic classes A and B who were between the ages of 18 and 44 were the survey’s target respondents (referred to as “Indian” in the report). Although interest in AI is growing, the survey found a sizable knowledge gap. Less than one in three Indians have used a generative AI tool, and three out of five are unaware of what artificial intelligence is or does. Understanding how to access and use these technologies is cited as a barrier by three-fourths of individuals who are not currently using Genai. Google is concentrating on making its AI products more user-friendly to meet this challenge. We’ve begun incorporating a lot of those [Genai] features. You’re starting to notice a single app more and more now.”All of these features are built into the Gemini app,” said Manish Gupta, Senior Director at Google DeepMind, in an exclusive interview. The goal of this consolidation is to give users a single location for all of their generative AI requirements while also removing the confusion that is frequently brought on by different AI services. Google is giving multimodal interaction top priority to further improve accessibility. According to Mr. Gupta, “so users can ask them [AI] with a few prompts.” As a result, Gemini will be more user-friendly for a larger spectrum of users by enabling text, speech, and visual inputs. Google is also concentrating on diversity by providing language support. “Our team has been working hard,” Mr. Gupta emphasised, “and we can improve the quality [of AI output] by understanding over 100 Indian languages.” This aids the business in localising AI advancements, especially in India, where not everyone speaks English. Beyond the app experience, Google is also attempting to use smaller language models to integrate AI capabilities straight into gadgets. This makes Gemini more accessible even in places with constrained bandwidth by enhancing performance and lowering dependency on continuous internet connectivity. Early adopters are already discovering useful uses for Gemini, despite the difficulties in gaining access to AI technologies. The survey outlines a variety of use cases, such as researching difficult subjects, helping with schoolwork, organising trips, obtaining “how-to” guides, professional email support, purchasing advice, picture creation, coding aid, and even gastronomic exploration. 75% of Indians believe that to thrive in life, they need a daily growth collaborator, and Gemini is well-positioned to be that person. In its report on the study, Google said that “for those who have overcome the initial barriers, the impact of Genai often goes beyond just task completion – it’s making a difference in how they feel about their capabilities.” The Google-Kantar report paints a cautiously hopeful picture of Genai in India. Although there are still many obstacles to overcome in terms of usability and awareness, Google’s efforts to simplify its products, give localized language support top priority, and incorporate AI directly into devices are essential steps in realizing the technology’s full potential as a “daily growth collaborator” for Indians from all socioeconomic backgrounds. The complete report is anticipated to provide more details on how Gen Z and Millennials view common problems.

Author: thecybershark