Have mechanisms to protect our critical infra: MEA on Chinese hackers targeting India's power grid

New Delhi, April 8: In a latest development on Chinese hackers attempting to disrupt Ladakh's power grid, the Ministry of External Affairs informed that they have a mechanism in place to safeguard their critical infrastructure.

 

MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, "We have defined our critical infrastructure so that it remains resilient. We have a system and mechanisms to protect our critical infrastructure." Asked whether India has taken it up with China or planning to take it up, he answered, "No, I don’t have any information on whether this issue has been taken up with China, this story is very recent."

 

 

These statements came after a report started to surface that Chinese state-sponsored hackers were attempting to target the Indian power sector near Ladakh in recent months for collecting intelligence information, according to a report by US-based cyber security company Recorded Future. Responding to these reports, Union Minister for Power and New and Renewable Energy RK Singh on Thursday said that the attempts made by Chinese hackers to target electricity distribution centres near Ladakh were successfully blocked.

 

 

China was also questioned on the same matter. China's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Zhao Lijian denied such accusations made by the US report. "I noted relevant reports. We have reiterated many times that China firmly opposes and combats all forms of cyber attacks in accordance with law. We will never encourage, support or condone cyber attacks."

 

The Chinese spokesperson slammed the United States for poor investigation regarding cyber-related incidents. "Given the virtual nature of cyberspace and the fact that there are all kinds of online actors who are difficult to trace, it’s important to have complete and sufficient evidence when investigating and identifying cyber-related incidents. One should be all the more prudent when associating cyberattacks with the government of a certain country," he said.

 

Calling it "hacking empire", he attacked US for doing cyber attacks the most across the world. "As is known to all, the US is the world’s largest source of cyber attacks and "hacking empire". A piece of advice to the relevant company that you just mentioned: if they really care about global cyber security, they should pay more attention to the cyber attacks by the US government-sponsored hackers on China and other countries, and do more to promote dialogue and cooperation among countries, rather than sow discord and sling mud at China under the pretext of cyberattack issues," he said.

 

 

As many as two attempts of cyberattack targeting the electricity distribution in the Union Territory were made by the Chinese hackers. Reacting to media reports claiming a cyber attack on the power grid near Ladakh between August and March, Singh said, "Two attempts by Chinese hackers were made to target electricity distribution centres near Ladakh but were not successful..."