China hackers targeted power grids near Ladakh, says report

Chinese hackers targeted power grids in north India over the last several months including in March this year, a US-based private cybersecurity firm has claimed. It said the seven targeted State Load Despatch Centres (SLDCs) were “in proximity to the disputed India-China border in Ladakh”.

Using a family of malware called ShadowPad, these hackers targeted SLDCs in north Indian states, according to a report released by Recorded Future, a Massachusetts-based cyber security firm that describes itself as specialising in the collection, processing, analysis and dissemination of threat intelligence.

The hackers are backed by Chinese state entities, the report said, linking the use of the trojan ShadowPad and hacking groups to the People’s Liberation Army and the Chinese Ministry of State Security.