Cyber Security Operations Centre issued a threat advisory to all departments a couple of days ago against using private e-mails in view of their vulnerability to attacks in phishing and other forms, and blocked the said e-mails as a precautionary measure. This resulted in private e-mails not working at the Secretariat departments and other offices. Speaking to The Hindu, Principal Secretary (IT, Electronics and Communications) K. Vijayanand said it was not a technical snag but deliberate blocking by the IT Department of the e-mails which were susceptible to cyber attacks. Safeguarding assetsPeople were excessively habituated to private e-mails which faced threat from malicious software like Ransomware, in spite of the availability of secure e-mail addresses, he observed. Technology Services Limited stated in a press release that upon receiving information that the websites of Telangana DISCOMs were seized by hackers using Robinhood Ransomware (RR), the A.P.

Source: The Hindu May 06, 2019 18:45 UTC