Centre to beef up cybersecurity after 59 Chinese apps-ban; key meet amid agencies' warning

Ministry of Information and Techlogy (IT) has called for an important meeting following intelligence reports of cyber attacks incoming from Chinese hackers. call for important meeting comes a day after 59 China-origin apps were banned by Centre following several reports about misuse of some mobile apps available on Android and iOS platforms for "stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users' data in an unauthorised manner to servers which have locations outside India".

meeting also follows hot on heels of Chinese hackers claiming to have hacked Aarogya Setu app on Tuesday night. Users faced issues in logging in to application. However, government clarified that issue had been resolved.

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Furr, as per sources, intelligence ncies have warned of a prominent cyberattack from Chinese hackers, indicating that among all sectors, power, telecom and financial services are being monitored even more closely given ir exposure to Chinese infrastructure. Chinese companies have played a major role by investing in critical infrastructures in India related to communications and power sector, hence making Indian cyber vulnerable as China has key access to networks in India. IT ministry will beef up its arsenal in order to respond effectively to cyber attacks from Chinese. 

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US Designates Huawei & ZTC As National Security Threat

Along with India's move to ban 59 China-origin apps, including TikTok, UC Browser and ShareIt among ors, US has designated two Chinese companies -- Huawei Techlogies Company and ZTE Corporation as "national security threats". Both are prime component suppliers for mobile networks worldwide. 

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai stated that money from FCC's Universal Service Fund worth Rs.8.3 billion dollars cant be used to buy, improve or support any equipment or services provided by se suppliers. This decision was taken after receiving inputs from US Congress, Executive Branch, intelligence community, allies, and communications service providers.

Pai stressed that Huawei and ZTE have close ties to Chinese Communist Party and China's military apparatus. According to him, both companies being subject to Chinese law obligates m to cooperate with nation's intelligence services. FCC Chairman observed that this was a clear mess that US government would t permit Chinese Communist Party to exploit vulnerabilities in US communications network and exploit critical communications infrastructure. Pai added that this action shall protect FCC's Universal Service Fund from being used to underwrite se suppliers, which threaten US' national security. 

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India bans 59 Chinese Apps

Amid tensions with China at LAC,  Ministry of Information Techlogy on Monday invoked its power under Section 69A of Information Techlogy Act read with relevant provisions of Information Techlogy (Procedure and Safeguards for Blocking of Access of Information by Public) Rules 2009 to ban 59 Chinese Apps. Revealing that Ministry of Information Techlogy had received many complaints of some Apps stealing and transmitting user data to servers located outside India, Centre stated that this was a matter of deep concern that required emergency measures. Moreover, re had been a strong chorus in public to take strict action against Apps which harm country's sovereignty and privacy of citizens. 

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