Chinese hacker groups continue to target Indian power grid resources

A year ago, Chinese-linked rivals launched a centralized attack on India’s vital internal infrastructure.

A year later, and it seems that Chinese hackers have instead re-focused their power on Indian power grid companies.

Cyber ​​security company Record Future’s Insect Group reports that most of the attacks involved a modular backdoor called Shadopad.

ShadowPad is a Trojan that has remote access and is called the “masterpiece of malware sold privately to Chinese spies”.

Insect Group of Recorded Futures says it believes that the goal of this wave of attacks, which appears to have been running on the power grid since September 2021, is to gather intelligence on critical infrastructure measures to prepare for future emergency operations.

Chinese-linked hackers mainly attack seven State Load Dispatch Centers (SDLCs) in northern India. These are believed to be the targets as Ladakh is close to the disputed Indo-China border.

Currently, the Redico Group is being blamed. The group is one of several active Chinese government-sponsored cyber-intelligence agencies, although they have not yet claimed it was their job.

“We have already strengthened our defenses against such cyber attacks,” Power Minister RK Singh told reporters on Thursday.

It came after at least two attempts by Chinese hackers at power distribution stations near Ladakh but were unsuccessful. Although the attempt was not successful, RK Singh has not yet said whether the hackers identified had any links to the Chinese government.

On April 7, 2022, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Zhao Lijian issued the following statement:

“We have repeatedly said that China strongly opposes and fights all forms of cyber-attacks in accordance with the law. We will never encourage, support or condone cyber attacks. Given the virtual nature of cyberspace and the fact that it is difficult to identify all kinds of online actors, it is important to have complete and sufficient evidence when investigating and identifying cyber-related incidents. “

India’s investigation is ongoing as it seeks to gather evidence and prevent further attacks.

How You Can Protect Yourself From Online Cybercriminals

Individuals, companies, large organizations, and even governments are victims of online cybercrime every day.

It is estimated that an average of 2,244 cyber attacks occur every day, which means that statistically speaking, no one can escape the target.

However, everyone has and should follow good security practices to protect themselves from cyber criminals while online.

1. Use strong passwords

Using a password manager for all your online accounts will ensure that you have a strong and unique password. One million passwords are stolen every week, so this must be an aspect that you always take seriously.

2. Check your device permissions

Many apps and software claim that they will not work perfectly unless given specific permission.

However, this is usually confusing and a way to force people to access apps and software on their devices. If not, do not grant permission and check your device’s settings to see which ones already have permissions so you can revoke them if you wish.

3. Install a free VPN for Chrome 7

No matter what device you use, you’ll be able to install a free VPN extension for Chrome. This free VPN for Chrome extension will enable you to safely browse the Internet because it will hide your personal information and encrypt your data and files so that they cannot be stolen. Some options even have security protections that help you identify security risks online.

It only takes a few moments to download a free VPN extension but it can save you a lot of stress and hassle in the future.

4. Avoid storing information in public spaces

Any public storage place like Google Docs and Dropbox should always be avoided. Do not use these spaces to store and store personal files, videos, photos, account numbers, etc. Any online storage site can be hacked and everything you have there can be used against you.

5. Set up social media accounts as personal

By default, social media accounts are open to the public. You need to go to your settings and manually switch them to personal Since you do not want to reveal personal information about you and your life to strangers or cybercriminals, you must check that only authorized people can see what you are posting.

In conclusion

If a device is connected to the Internet, there is a possibility of being hacked. So, stay on top of your security, and you can surf online in peace.