Keeping in view India’s internal security, analyse the impact of cross-border cyber attacks. Also discuss defensive measures against these sophisticated attacks. (UPSC 2021)

Cross-border cyber attacks are now a major internal security threat as they are cheap, anonymous and scalable, often using malware, deepfakes and advanced persistent threats.

• Impact: They can disrupt power, telecom, transport and defence systems, weaken crisis response and public order, and target banks, stock markets and UPI, causing panic and loss of trust. They also steal citizen data, defence secrets and industrial IP, while fake narratives can inflame tensions and mislead the public.
• Defence: India needs strong cyber hygiene, regular audits, encryption, network segmentation and zero-trust architecture, along with faster incident reporting, threat-intelligence sharing, skilled manpower, secure supply chains and tighter coordination among CERT-In, NCIIPC, I4C, intelligence agencies and regulators.

India must treat cyberspace as a core security domain and build resilient, adaptive and law-backed defences supported by technology and public awareness.