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Showing posts from November 3, 2019

‘We were warned of cyber attack’: ISRO confirms reports of malware attack

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According to reports, Indian Space Research Organisation was alerted about the potential cybersecurity attack during the Chandrayaan-2 lunar landing mission.  It was allegedly around the time of the Indian Space Research Organisation or ISRO’s Chandrayaan-2 lunar landing mission that the agency was notified about a possible cyberattack on its systems. According to an Indian Express (IE) report on November 6, apart from the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) in Tamil Nadu, ISRO was also  targeted  by the infamous North Korea-based hacker group, Lazarus. On September 3, the National Cyber Coordination Centre — India’s cybersecurity and e-surveillance agency — had received intelligence from a cybersecurity company in the US, about a “threat actor” that has breached master “domain controllers” at the Kudankulam plant and ISRO, with a malware identified as Dtrack, developed by the North Korean hacker group. Breaching the domain controllers would mean that the hackers have access to

Iraqi Forces Capture Major Baghdad Bridges from Protesters as Demonstrations Continue

The bridges span the Tigris and give access to the heavily fortified Green Zone, the seat of government. Protesters have tried to force their way across on an almost daily basis. Baghdad:  Iraqi security forces cleared three flashpoint bridges in Baghdad of anti-government protesters on Saturday, using stun grenades and tear gas amid heavy clashes, while three more protesters were killed in the southern city of Basra overnight. Mass protests erupted in Baghdad and across southern Iraq last month, calling for the overhaul of the political system established after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. The demonstrations and a heavy-handed security response have resulted so far in more than 250 deaths. In the capital, demonstrators were pushed back under clouds of tear gas from the Sinak bridge to the nearby Khilani square, where 35 people were wounded, according to medical officials who spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations. Security forces moved on to regain control o

Five Police Officers Killed, Two Injured in Ambush in Mexican Highlands

The policemen were attacked as they patrolled La Cementera de San Vicente Coatlan, a community of about 4,000 inhabitants, roughly 80 kilometers from the state capital. AFP Oaxaca (Mexico) : At least five police officers were killed after they were ambushed in a small community nestled in the highlands of the state of Oaxaca in southern Mexico, local authorities reported. The policemen were attacked late on Friday afternoon, according to the Secretary of State Security, as they patrolled La Cementera de San Vicente Coatlan, a community of about 4,000 inhabitants, roughly 80 kilometers from the state capital. Five officers were killed and two more were injured, the ministry said in a statement. The two injured men were taken to a hospital in Oaxaca. "I condemn the aggression against elements of the State Police in San Vicente Coatlan and I sympathize with their relatives. I have asked the prosecutor for an exhaustive investigation," Oaxaca Governor Alejandro Murat

Hong Kong Pro-democracy Lawmakers Arrested After Brawl in Parliament as Tensions Soar

Hong Kong police brought charges against three key pro-democracy lawmakers while four other lawmakers said they had been ordered to attend a police station later Saturday to be booked. AFP Hong Kong : Hong Kong police said Saturday they have arrested three pro-democracy lawmakers over a brawl in parliament, deepening the city's crisis a day after the death of a student sent tensions soaring. The international finance hub has been upended by five months of huge and increasingly violent pro-democracy protests but Beijing has refused to give in to most of the movement's demands. With the city bracing for a 24th consecutive weekend of rallies, police brought charges against three key pro-democracy lawmakers while four other lawmakers said they had been ordered to attend a police station later Saturday to be booked. They face up to a year in jail if convicted. The charges relate to chaotic scenes that broke out within a legislative committee in May as pro-democracy law

8chan returns as far-right extremists find new online home

Russian hosting service allows for new posts from person claiming to be at centre of 'QAnon' conspiracy theory 8chan returns as far-right extremists find new online home Russian hosting service allows for new posts from person claiming to be at centre of 'QAnon' conspiracy theory Anthony Cuthbertson 3 days ago Anonymous online message board  8chan , which has provided a platform for several mass shooters over the last 12 months, has re-emerged online under a new guise. Administrators of the original site relaunched it over the weekend using the name 8kun, in a move that was celebrated by supporters of the  QAnon conspiracy theories embraced by far-right factions of Donald Trump's fanbase. The original 8chan site was knocked offline earlier this year after web hosting firms withdrew support for the controversial forum in the wake of the El Paso mass shooting in El Paso. In the build-up to the atrocity in Texas, a far-right and anti-immigrant manifesto

US wants UN to take up Dalai Lama succession: Envoy

In 1995, the officially atheist government selected its own Panchen Lama and detained a six-year-old identified for the influential Buddhist position. WASHINGTON: The United States wants the United Nations to take up the Dalai Lama's succession in an intensifying bid to stop China from trying to handpick his successor, an envoy said after meeting the Tibetan spiritual leader. Sam Brownback, the US ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom, said he spoke at length about the succession issue with the 84-year-old Dalai Lama last week in the monk's home-in-exile of Dharamsala, India. Brownback said he told the Dalai Lama that the United States would seek to build global support for the principle that the choice of the next spiritual chief "belongs to the Tibetan Buddhists and not the Chinese government." "I would hope that the UN would take the issue up," Brownback told AFP after returning to Washington. He acknowledged that China, with

Pakistan-backed 'Sikhs for justice' sets Khalistan agenda on Google Play Store

Named as '2020 Sikh Referendum', a 7.54 MB mobile app pushes for voter registration for the Referendum-2020 agenda seeking support of people belonging to Punjab. NEW DELHI: Ahead of Kartarpur Corridor opening on Saturday, the US-based radical group, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) -- learnt to be backed by Pakistan -- has adopted a new platform on Google Play Store to propagate its separatist Khalistan agenda. Named as '2020 Sikh Referendum', a 7.54 MB mobile app offered by Romania-based ICETECH web designing solution firm pushes for voter registration for the Referendum-2020 agenda seeking support of people belonging to Punjab. During the downloading process, the version 3.001 app requests access to camera, location, storage contents of SD card (seeking permission to modify and delete it), and control over network access, network connection and Wi-Fi connections, raising major concern to the security of mobile users based in India or abroad. ALSO READ:  Bhindranwale,

Pakistan using ‘spirituality’ to trap sensitive information from Indian soldiers: Sources

NEW DELHI: The Pakistan intelligence agencies have started using spirituality to elicit sensitive information from the Indian Military personnel. This information comes a day after the Rajasthan Police caught Lance Naik Ravi Verma and Sepoy Vichitra Behera after they were honey-trapped by Pakistani spy agencies through social media. “We have identified around 150 social media profiles running with fictitious pseudo profiles which are targeting soldiers,” said an Army officer. The officer informed, “They are creating fake identities of a religious guru/preacher using various social media sites/applications and try to get in touch with vulnerable jawans.” They are using YouTube, Skype, Tic Toc, Vigo live. Among video calling sites IMO, Google and few more. The focus remains on people having the mandate to interact civilians in telephone exchange, Base Workshops, Military Hospitals, Unit Wet Canteens and they target even families, said the officer. “The aim of the enemy i

Turkey to send foreign IS fighters home from November 11

Turkey has criticised Western countries for refusing to repatriate their citizens who left to join IS in Syria and Iraq, and stripping some of them of their citizenship. ISTANBUL: Turkey will start sending foreign jihadists back to their home countries next week, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu told state news agency Anadolu on Friday. "Now we are telling you that we are going to send them back to you. We are starting this on Monday," Soylu said, referring to members of the Islamic State group (IS). Earlier this week, Soylu said Turkey had nearly 1,200 foreign members of IS in custody, and had captured 287 during its recent operation in northern Syria. ALSO READ:  Pro-Kurdish mayor arrested in Turkey Turkey has criticised Western countries for refusing to repatriate their citizens who left to join IS in Syria and Iraq, and stripping some of them of their citizenship. It remains unclear whether Turkey will be able to repatriate those who have lost their citizen

Ahead of Kartarpur corridor opening, Pakistan displays 'Indian bomb' at gurdwara there

A day before the opening of the corridor that will connect the Darbar Sahib in Kartarpur with the Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur and allow Indian pilgrims to visit the shrine where Guru Nanak spent his final years, the project was embroiled in a fresh controversy. According to some Indians who were part of a private group that recently visited the Darbar Sahib Gurdwara in Pakistan, authorities there have cleared an exhibit showcasing a small bomb that was allegedly dropped by the IAF during the 1971 war. The  Hindustan Times  reported that the bomb has been placed within a glass case on top of a pillar-like structure, also featuring the 'khanda' (a symbol representing the Sikh faith). ALSO READ:  Pakistan to charge USD 20 from opening day of Kartarpur pilgrimage, indicate sources A board erected next to the pillar reads 'Miracle of Waheguruji', further stating, "Indian Air Force dropped this bomb in 1971 at Gurdwara Darbar Sahib Sri Kartarpur Sahib with the

Blast near Tirupur temple Two killed; three were seriously injured

Kanchipuram: At least two people were killed and three seriously injured in a blast at Tirupur. The explosion occurred when an abandoned box was opened while cleaning the pool behind the Gangayaman Kovil in Manampathi village in Thiruvanchoor. The deceased were identified as Surya and Dileep Raghavan.  Jayaraj, Thirumal, and Yuvraj, who injured in the blast were admitted to the Kanchipuram hospital. The blast occurred in Kanchipuram amid tight security after the Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist allegedly infiltrated in Tamil Nadu. The incident has alarmed security agencies as there were reports of the possible terrorist attacks. Inspections are being carried out on the spot led by top police officers. Source:  https://global.janmabhumidaily.com/news861207

Hafiz Saeed's Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation active in the cyberspace despite UN steps

NEW DELHI: Pakistan-based terror group LeT's frontal organisation Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation, established by India's most wanted terrorist Hafiz Saeed, remains active in the cyberspace despite being designated by the UN, Union Minister G Kishan Reddy said on Friday. The minister of state for home also said India's investigations have revealed that dreaded Middle-East terror group ISIS has used encrypted platforms and the dark web to radicalise people and recruit terrorists. Reddy was addressing a gathering on the second day of the 'No Money for Terror' conference in Melbourne. The minister, at a round table discussion on 'Emerging Technologies and Terrorism Financing Risk', reminded the gathering of the cyber activities of the Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation, stating that "despite being designated, it is active in the cyber world". Falah-e-Insaniyat Foundation founder Hafiz Saeed is also the chief of the Lashkar-e-Taiba. Reddy also highlig

A new Cybersecurity Imperative: Dynamic and Holistic

Securing an organization against cyberattacks is one of greatest challenges companies currently face. In this interview with Maninder Singh, head of HCL Technologies’ Cybersecurity & GRC Services practice, he describes a new approach for companies to protect themselves in this hostile environment. How has the cybersecurity threat landscape changed in the past year? The tremendous business opportunities created by digital technologies come with major  cybersecurity  challenges. Technologies such as the Internet of Things give hackers potentially countless new access points to inflict damage. In organizations’ rush to leverage new technologies, many precautions have been overlooked and risks underestimated. In the last year alone, we have seen pervasive ransomware attacks like WannaCry and Petya, as well as major breaches at organizations like Equifax, Gmail, and Uber. The number and sophistication of cyber-threats are only going to increase. In this increasingly menacing e