State to probe virus attack on mantralaya computers

MUMBAI: Days after a virus attacked the computers in Mantralaya, the state has announced a forensic probe to identify the source of the virus. It has banned private

MUMBAI: Days after a virus attacked the computers in Mantralaya, the state has announced a forensic probe to identify the source of the virus. It has banned private mails and use of USB drives for its 7,000 employees.

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Locky ransomware, which has wreaked havoc in Germany and the United States for the past four months, attacked 150 computers and encrypted important files belonging to public works and revenue departments on May 14 and 15. Although the state administration has succeeded in containing its spread, it has announced a probe to find the source of the infection. The department of information and technology (DIT) has decided to send the computers to the forensic department to ascertain the source, so further precautionary measures can be taken.

HT, in its May 25, edition has reported about the virus attack. “We have decided to implement the standing policy of the government of not allowing the private emails on office computers. All employees have been given official email ids and the official communication should be done through them. We have also decided to encrypt all downloads by employees to ensure no such attack is repeated again,” said Vijay Kumar Gautam, principal secretary, DIT. Gautam claimed the software used in the Mantralaya has been sanitised and the data is safe. “The virus has attacked thousands of computers in the US and Germany and the hackers have extorted billions of dollars.” he said, adding the hackers used to send emails using IDs identical to the ones of the head of the financial institutions and multinational companies.