Keeping in view India’s internal security, analyse the impact of cross-border cyber attacks. Also discuss defensive measures against these sophisticated attacks. (Answer in 150 words)

Cross-border cyber attacks exploit interconnected networks to achieve espionage, disruption, ransom or strategic coercion while complicating attribution and jurisdiction.

Security impacts

• Attacks on power, banking, telecom, transport and health can disrupt essential services and public confidence.
• Data theft from defence, government and strategic industries enables espionage, blackmail and economic loss.
• Disinformation, deepfakes and coordinated influence operations can polarise society and undermine elections.
• Ransomware and supply-chain compromise spread through trusted vendors, creating cascading effects.

Defensive measures

• Harden critical infrastructure through zero-trust architecture, segmentation, encryption, multifactor authentication and tested backups.
• Strengthen CERT-In, NCIIPC, sectoral SOCs, threat intelligence and mandatory rapid incident reporting.
• Conduct red-team exercises, secure software supply chains and train personnel against social engineering.
• Use diplomatic channels, cyber norms, attribution partnerships and international law-enforcement cooperation.

Critical information infrastructure; zero trust; CERT-In; NCIIPC; supply-chain attack; cyber diplomacy.