IB, Central cyber security agencies to probe ransomware attack on Oil India

NEW DELHI: The Intelligence Bureau and two national cyber security agencies – CERT-In and NCIIPC – have joined the probe into the ransomware attack on state-run explorer Oil India Ltd’s (OIL) headquarters at Duliajan in Assam on April 10 asking for a ransom of $75,00,000 (Rs 57 crore), sources said.
The level of the Centre’s response to the first publicly known cyberattack on an Indian oil company is significant as it comes within less than two months of alleged China-backed hackers targeting – without success – seven power grid controllers in the northern region.
The deployment of IB and the Central cyber security agencies indicates the government is not treating the attack on OIL as a wanton cyber extortion activity and wants to find out the possible role of cyber criminal syndicates or foreign-backed players.