IMD restricts access to weather data over fear of cyber attack
2
Hyderabad: In response to potential cyber threats emerging after recent escalation in India-Pakistan tensions, the
India Meteorological Department
(IMD) has initiated major cyber security upgrades, including installation of firewalls and a password-based access system, to protect its core weather data platforms.
This was done following suspicious data access attempts from IP addresses in Pakistan and Afghanistan, officials said.
"So far, IMD websites and databases were accessed by many without any security measures. Due to recent situations of cyber threats from outside the country, it was decided to install firewalls and also user ID password-based access to restricted individuals. This can help prevent cyber attacks," IMD, Hyderabad, director Dr K Nagaratna, said
As part of these security measures, access to data from automatic weather stations (AWS) and RAPID (real-time analysis of product and information dissemination) has been restricted.
RAPID is a web-based tool used for visualising and analysing Indian National Satellite (INSAT) system data, crucial for weather event identification.
The decision has drawn concern from weather bloggers and independent meteorologists, who regularly use IMD tools for real-time updates.
Balaji T, popularly known as Telangana Weatherman, said, "IMD has now restricted access to AWS and RAPID. This was so useful for weather enthusiasts and bloggers."
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Describing the AWS system, he said it includes remote stations, telemetry, and Earth receiving stations, equipped to measure temperature, humidity, pressure, rainfall, wind, solar radiation, and soil metrics.
"RADAR of IMD is still accessible. We don't know when it will go off. We, as weather enthusiasts, feel that giving access to this data will not be an issue of cyber security. We use ground observations and international models.
It will be difficult for young weather enthusiasts. They have to now depend on international data," he added.
Balaji also pointed out that in many countries, weather data was treated as open data.
"Worldwide, weather data is liberalised, making it open data. India is going in reverse," he said.
S Sai Kiran, Vizag Weatherman, said: "We rely primarily on weather models from European and US-based sources. We have used AWS and RAPID only a few times. Additionally, we refer to data from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh State Development Planning Society portals. For other regions in India, we largely depend on data from IMD and now it is inaccessible. For radar information, we continue to use IMD's doppler radar system, which is still available.
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