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Another ransomware attack in Gurgaon, many cases unreported says police

There are more such cases where large firms are attacked, but they are not being reported due to reputation issues.

Published on: Jul 7, 2017, 21:43:22 IST
hindustan times | By , Gurgaon
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After the ransomware attack on a Gurgaon based company, which owns the clothing brand Blackberrys, more such cases are being reported. Police on Friday said a computer retailer complained of a ransomware attack on his systems.

Cyber crime hacker typing on laptop.
Cyber crime hacker typing on laptop.

The ransom demanded from him was only about Rs 20,000, a police official said.

Officials, however, said there are more such cases where large firms are attacked, but they are not being reported due to reputation issues.

A senior official said that servers of a large advertising firm with a global presence including Gurgaon was hacked last Tuesday which impacted its business badly. “All the windows systems were hacked and most of the data has been lost. Whatever was on cloud and emails is saved. The IT system is crippled by the ransomware attack”, said an employee of the company. A case in this regard has been filed at Cyber crime cell.

Gurgaon police commissioner Sandeep Khirwar said that ransomware attacks and similar hacks were very complicated crimes, and to detect those was difficult.

“We will take the help of cyber experts to investigate these attacks which are going to increase in near future”, said Khirwar. Instead of getting beaten by the criminals, Khirwar, who was speaking at sidelines of Cyber Security Internship seminar suggested, that firms, industries and institutions must secure and update their systems with adequate safeguards to prevent such crimes.

Deepak Kumar, a cyber forensic expert said it is important to follow basic net-etiquette as it will help prevent such cyber attacks. “Keep the software updated, install firewalls, use genuine software, and never click on emails that come from unknown sources. Most importantly take backup data”, said Kumar.

In case of cyber attack on Blackberrys, the company was saved because it had backed up most of its data.

Meanwhjle, officials of the Gurgaon police Cyber crime cell said that they are looking into all the aspects of these crimes. “Right now the police will investigate these cases but side by side also make people aware about the need to work in a safe and secure environment”, said Pankhuri Kumar, in charge, Cyber crime cell.

  • Abhishek Behl
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Abhishek Behl

    Abhishek Behl is a Special Correspondent with Hindustan Times, Gurugram bureau. With over a decade of experience in journalism, he reports on Gurugram's rapid urban transformation, covering the city's changing infrastructure, governance, and planning landscape. His reporting spans major civic agencies, such as the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP), Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP), and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Behl has reported on key urban development issues such as RRTS projects, metro expansion, road and highway projects, water supply, drainage, mobility, environmental concerns, land use planning, affordable housing, and the city's real estate sector. He closely tracks policy decisions, infrastructure implementation, and their impact on the city and its residents. He also covers regulatory action against illegal constructions, urban flooding, traffic management, and initiatives aimed at improving civic services and sustainable development. Behl has also written on political developments in south Haryana, focusing on elections and governance. His journalism is driven by fact-based reporting, ground-level coverage, and an understanding of the social and economic dynamics of Gurugram. Apart from work he is a cyclist and a cricketer and a resident of Palam Vihar since 2010.Read More