Cyber Threat Looms Over Maharashtra Government Departments, Warns Cyber Cell

Several departments Website of the Maharashtra government are under threat of a potential cyber attack, as revealed in a probe conducted by Maharashtra Cyber. According to the information shared by the Maharashtra Cyber Cell, the investigation has found that many government departments lack adequate cybersecurity measures, making their websites vulnerable to cyber intrusions at any time.

Among the departments identified as being at risk are the Maharashtra Police, Directorate General of Information and Public Relations (DGIPR), the Electricity Department, and the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC), along with several other key departments. Following the investigation, Maharashtra Cyber has issued an advisory to all concerned departments, urging them to take immediate and necessary precautions.

Confirming the cyber threat, ADG Yashasvi Yadav of Maharashtra Cyber stated that these departments have not implemented essential cybersecurity protocols, which is a matter of serious concern. “We have advised these departments to be vigilant and follow security best practices,” he added.

As per Maharashtra Cyber, the primary reason for the looming threat is the leakage of critical data on the darknet. The investigation has revealed that several credentials of these departments are currently available on the darknet, and cybercriminals could exploit this information at any time. It has also come to light that Pakistani and Chinese hackers are accessing the leaked data, posing a significant risk to national security.

With Maharashtra emerging as a prime target for cyber attackers, the cyber cell has recommended a series of measures including regular password updates for official email accounts, cybersecurity audits and compliance, forensic analysis, risk assessments, application testing, and disaster recovery planning.

It is noteworthy that this is not the first time Maharashtra government departments have been targeted. Previous cyber attacks include the ransomware attack on JNPT Mumbai in 2017, the Rs 100 crore Cosmos Bank heist in 2018, a major cyber attack on MSEB servers in 2020, and a significant ransomware attack on the MIDC server in 2021.