A private US-based cyber security company claimed on Wednesday that materials from an Indian media group as well as the police department and the agency responsible for national identity data were hacked by a state-sponsored Chinese conglomerate. Massachusetts-based Recorded Future's Insect Group said the hacking group, tentatively named TAG-28, used the Vinty malware. This malware is specifically shared among several state-run Chinese activity groups. This allegation is expected to increase the squabble between the two regional giants. Relations between the two are already seriously strained over the border dispute.
Chinese cyber attacks on Indian companies increased by 261 percent
Insect Group said in its report that the cyber attacks could be related to border tensions. The organization said in its report that as of early August 2021, recorded data shows that there has been a 261 percent increase in the number of suspected state-run Chinese cyber activities targeting Indian organizations and companies in 2021 compared to 2020 .
Which companies and organizations were targeted?
The report also traced four 'IP' addresses given to an Indian media company with two Vinty servers between February and August. It said that about 500 megabytes of data was extracted from the network of the privately owned Mumbai-based company. The publications of this company include the Times of India newspaper. The Times of India did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
Insect Group said it found that five megabytes of data was extracted from the state police department of Madhya Pradesh on similar lines. In June 2020, after the border dispute with India, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan called for a boycott of Chinese products. The group said it also identified hacks at the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) in June and July. It said that about 10 megabytes of data was downloaded and 30 megabytes of data was uploaded. The UIDAI, however, told the AP that it was not aware of the "violations of the nature mentioned".
