Intel agencies alert Indian Railways about malware attack in its system

New Delhi: At a time when the country is yet to recover from the shock of losing 20 Indian soldiers in a violent clash with the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) troops in Ladakh's Galwan Valley, another shocker has come to light with news coming of a malware hitting the Indian Railways network and snooping its data for foreign countries, including train movements, sources in the intelligence agencies said on Friday.

The news comes a day after the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation Limited (DFCCIL) decided to terminate the 417 km signalling project worth Rs 471 crore with Chinese firm Beijing National Railway Research and Design Institute of Signal and Communication Group Company Limited (BNRRDISC) due to non-performance.

According to intelligence agency sources, the system of the Railways has been hit by the APT 36 Malware campaign.

The source said that the Intel agencies have also alerted the Railway Board to instantly disconnect the system with the internet and change the password immediately. The source said the APT 36 Malware is connected to Pakistan, which is a close ally of China. The source further said that following the red flag from the Intel agencies, the system of a senior Principal Execeutive Director of the Railways, working in its vigilance department, has been taken for cleaning the malware threat.

As per the source, through the APT 36 Malware campaign, data stored in the Indian Railways systems were being stolen and stored in foreign locations, including the movement of the trains. He further claimed that the APT 36 Malware also tried to take defence movement data. The source said the APT 36 Malware effect was reported from at least four systems of the Indian Railways. (IANS)

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