Ex-IAF chief seeks integrated cyber security system for military and civilian sectors

Former Chief of Indian Air Force, Air Chief Marshal (Retd) Arup Raha, on Tuesday described cyber terrorism is worst of its kind and said India still lagged behind China in terms of developing an integrated cyber security system for both military and civilian sectors.

He said military is quite well-off in terms of cyber warfare, but expressed concern over growing threats of cyber attacks in or sectors, stating that irrespective of ir operations, se are vulnerable to such attacks.

"Cyber is worst kind of terrorism because here you do t need trained people with bullets and weapons to fire and kill lots of people. re will be violence, but it will result in lots of death and devastation without firing," Raha said.

"China has developed a cyber warfare system to a large extent. We are actually lagging behind and we are still trying to cope up with challenges.... Each and every sector is important," he said during an interaction here.

On hacking of power plants in Iran, Raha said, ir atomic and nuclear power plants were hacked and y could t control functioning of nuclear plants and y were helpless.

"re will be explosion... re will be nuclear.... You cant even produce or distribute power. Effect is immense," he said.

RE | India Witnessed Over 4.36 Lakh Cyberattacks From Russia, US, Ors In Jan-Jun: F-Secure

Elaborating more, former Air Force chief said if hackers could get into air traffic control system and cripple it, re will be control resulting in crashes, and total collapse.

Stating that a number of trains in developed countries are automated like Bullet Trains in Japan, Raha said se trains do t have drivers and if somebody can hack into its system, re will be devastation.

Ecomic and commercial organisations like banks are vulnerable in same way, he said.

"Military is quite well off in terms of cyber warfare - both defensive as well as offensive. Offensives should be controlled centrally because it has got several repercussions. Any individual or organisation launching cyber attack on anyone may have repercussions on our own system and I feel that it will be done centrally," he said.

Incidentally, a three-day seminar focusing on use of Internet by terrorists to cripple different sectors of ecomy such as industry, banking, infrastructure, transportation, logistics and essential services, has been organised in city starting January 16.

Former National Security viser MK Narayanan is likely to be present in meet.

RE | From Pak To Khalistan, Naxalism And Cyberterror, Home Minister Rajnath Singh Talks About National Security And More