According to sources, the investigation suggests multiple groups from Pakistan and Indonesia executed attacks during the G20 summit on September 9 and 10 of last year
During the 2023 G20 Summit hosted by India, the official website faced a staggering 16 lakh cyberattacks per minute. These attacks, known as DDoS (distributed denial-of-service), aimed to bring down the website. Fortunately, the attempts failed, thanks to the coordinated efforts of relevant agencies.
The cybercrime body revealed that the attacks began months before the event and reached their peak during the summit, categorising the situation as a ‘security incident.’ Malicious activities targeted the G20 portal the moment it went live, continuing to escalate as the event approached.
The summit itself took place at New Delhi’s Bharat Mandapam Convention Centre, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi serving as the host. This marked the first-ever G20 conference hosted by India. The 17th G20 Summit occurred in Indonesia in November 2022, and the 19th is scheduled for Brazil in November of this year.
The nature of the cyberattacks underscores the increasing threat of online disruptions during significant global events. The successful defence against these attacks highlights the importance of collaborative efforts among various agencies to ensure the security and stability of crucial digital infrastructure. As the world continues to navigate the digital age, safeguarding against cyber threats remains a top priority for governments and organisations hosting major international gatherings.
“During G20, in one minute, on the G20 website, on the day of the summit, we had around 16 lakh attacks coming. If you put a figure on that, we will say that one minute, 16 lakh attacks are coming,” said Rajesh Kumar, CEO, Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) told reporters at the agency’s annual press conference.
