Hacktivists, hailing from countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, and Indonesia, have honed in on India for religious reasons, making up 30.31 per cent of their targets, followed by Israel (14.51 per cent) and Sweden (2.67 per cent)
India has found itself at the centre of a growing cyber conflict fuelled by religious sentiments, as hacktivist groups intensify their online attacks, leaving security firms struggle to keep pace with the evolving landscape. This surge in activity, primarily driven by religious motivations, has brought to light the complex interplay between cyber warfare, digital dissent, and the blending of political and religious ideologies.
Understanding The Landscape
According to security reports from Radware, a firm specialising in Cybersecurity, India has become the primary target for hacktivists, with a staggering 480 distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks claimed in the first three months of 2023 alone. While hacktivism traditionally emerged to support social causes, it has now transformed into a multifaceted tool used for advancing religious and political agendas.
Hacktivists, hailing from countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, and Indonesia, have honed in on India for religious reasons, making up 30.31 per cent of their targets, followed by Israel (14.51 per cent ) and Sweden (2.67 per cent ). The attacks are not confined to the virtual realm, as they spill over into the real world, with incidents like the Indian farmer’s protest in 2020 giving rise to hacktivist groups such as Anonymous India and the Red Rabbit Team.
The motives behind these attacks vary, ranging from political factors driving attacks on countries like Poland, Ukraine, and Lithuania to religious reasons compelling hacktivists to target India. One notable instance involves the pro-Palestinian hacktivist group ‘DragonForce Malaysia,’ launching cyberattacks named OpsPatuk in response to controversial remarks made by a Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson.
Meanwhile, India has its share of sympathiser hacktivist groups like the ‘Indian Cyber Mafia,’ retaliating against Indonesian entities for attacks on Indian soil. Anonymous India, Mariana’s Web, Team UCC Operation, Indian Cyber Mafia, Indian Cyber Force, Team 1-4-1, and Kerala Cyber Xtractors have all joined the digital battleground.
Evolving Tactics, Targets
The spectrum of hacktivism has broadened its scope, targeting not only government institutions but also non-profit organisations, education, automobile, finance, banking, and the energy sectors. Methods employed include Doxing, Anonymous blogging, DoS and DDoS attacks, informational leaks, geo-bombing, website mirroring, and code changing, showcasing the versatility of hacktivist strategies.
As per Radware’s insights, attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated, with new HTTPS Flood attacks originating from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. These encrypted, high-volume bot attacks evade standard security measures, highlighting the need for adaptive Layer 7 (L7), behavioural-based security solutions employing AI algorithms.
Measures Taken By Firms To Curb Attacks
In response to this escalating digital warfare, security firms are turning to machine learning and artificial intelligence to analyse massive datasets and thwart hacktivist endeavours. However, these very tools are being adopted by hacktivist groups, showcasing the relentless cat-and-mouse game in the cyber realm.
To safeguard against hacktivist attacks, organisations are advised to implement a range of security measures, including regular security assessments, incident response planning, employee training, network segmentation, threat intelligence, and disaster recovery protocols. For CIOs and CISOs, the challenge lies in implementing these measures effectively amidst the ever-evolving tactics of hacktivist groups.
As the digital battlefield expands, the world is witnessing a paradigm shift in hacktivism, with religious motivations taking centre stage in the Indian context. The need for proactive cybersecurity measures, coupled with an understanding of the evolving tactics employed by hacktivist groups, is paramount to defending against these digital incursions. In this fast-paced landscape, staying one step ahead is not just a necessity but a prerequisite for securing the digital frontier.
