Latest news with #SandeepMittal
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Airtel cracks down on online fraud in T.N., blocks 1,80,000 malicious links
As part of the nationwide rollout of its artificial intelligence (AI)-powered fraud detection system, Airtel has blocked over 1,80,000 malicious links and safeguarded more than 3 million users across the State. Automatically enabled for all Airtel mobile and broadband customers, the advanced system scans and filters links across SMS, WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook, Instagram, e-mail, and other browsers. It leverages real-time threat intelligence to examine over 1 billion URLs daily and blocks access to harmful sites in under 100 milliseconds, said the Airtel in a press release. For instance, if a resident in Salem receives a suspicious message that reads: 'Your package is delayed. Track it here: And if the unsuspecting resident then clicks on the link, Airtel's system also clicks into gear. It instantly scans the link and if flagged as suspicious, it blocks access. The user is redirected to a warning message that reads: 'Blocked! Airtel found this site dangerous!' All this instantaneously. This real-time interception prevents users from falling victim to all kinds of frauds. Tarun Virmani, CEO-Tamil Nadu and Kerala, Bharti Airtel, said that at a time when digital threats were becoming more advanced and widespread, the need for a strong and dependable secure mobile network was more essential than ever. Commenting at the event, Sandeep Mittal, Additional Director General of Police, Cyber Crime Wing, said: 'We are pleased that the Airtel team informed us and offered a comprehensive overview of their initiative for fraud detection solutions, detailing its goals and operational methodology.'
The Hindu
05-06-2025
- The Hindu
136 cyber criminals nabbed across Tamil Nadu in operation ‘Thiraineekku-II'
The Cyber Crime Wing of TN Police has arrested 136 cyber criminals across Tamil Nadu after conducting A special operation called Operation 'Thiraineekku- II.' In December last year, the Cyber Crime Wing earlier conducted 'Operation Thiraineekku-I' and arrested 76 cyber criminals across the state. The second phase of the operation officially began on June 2 and concluded in the early hours of June 4. The operation was planned and executed across all districts and cities of Tamil Nadu. This large-scale operation was based on accused profiling by scientific investigation of Cyber Crime Wing teams under close supervision of Superintendent of Police I. Shahnaz. The profiling was done based on complaints registered through National CRP Portal of Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and also through bank fund trail linkages established by financial data analysis of cybercriminal networks. Additional Director General of Police, Cyber Crime Wing Sandeep Mittal said the special teams have arrested 136 cyber criminals across Tamil Nadu. These criminals are linked to 159 cases registered by the Cyber Crime Police Stations in Tamil Nadu. Bank mule agents were identified and six have been secured busting a gang which is behind 30-odd shell companies, with over 100 agents working for it. During the special operation, the Cyber Crime Wing has seized 125 mobile phones, 304 bank accounts, 88 cheque books, 107 ATM debit / credit cards, 35 desktops, etc. 'We are analysing digital evidence and interrogating the arrested individuals to uncover additional layers of the criminal operations throughout India. Efforts are underway to trace and apprehend other members of the network, recover defrauded funds, and identify broader links to nationwide cybercrime activities,' said Mr. Mittal.
The Hindu
10-05-2025
- The Hindu
Cyber Crime Wing of T.N. police issues alert against phishing links disguised as news on Operation Sindoor
In the wake of escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, there is an elevated risk of cyber attacks, particularly advanced persistent threats, known for targeting Indian government agencies, military personnel, and critical infrastructure. The Cyber Crime Wing of the Tamil Nadu Police has issued an advisory to the public about a recent surge in malicious content, spreading rapidly through WhatsApp, email, and social media platforms, with respect to Operation Sindoor. The groups involved in this type of cyber attack use sophisticated tactics, such as sending phishing emails, fake login pages, and malicious attachments to gain unauthorised access to sensitive information. Advisories regarding these threats have already been issued to all government departments in the State, the police said. The contents of these emails and attachments include deceptive videos, images, .exe/.apk files, and phishing links disguised as news or updates related to the ongoing Indo-Pak conflict. Threat actors are exploiting heightened public interest and tension around the situation to target unsuspecting individuals with malware, fake news, and cyber scams, said Additional Director General of Police, Cyber Crime Wing, Sandeep Mittal. 'Malicious content' These cybercriminals are circulating malicious content under the pretext of exclusive updates, conflict-related visuals, or leaked footage, with many of these materials carrying malware, spyware, or links to phishing websites. They can be in the form of links or even photographs sent from unknown numbers or forwarded on WhatsApp, Telegram, or other social media platforms. The advisory from the police said cyber criminals embed phishing links in messages that appear to come from trusted sources to steal personal data through phishing websites designed to look like legitimate news or government sources. They spread APK (Android Package) files labelled as apps or tools (e.g., 'live war updates app'), which, once installed, can steal data, access device files, or lock phones with ransomware and demand payment, the advisory said. Once these malicious links/image/.exe/.apk files are downloaded, a malware is installed, which can compromise the device and hack into bank accounts or social media profiles. Mr. Mittal said, 'We are working with the Union Home Ministry's Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre to block such links and prevent them.'
The Hindu
26-04-2025
- The Hindu
T.N. Cyber Crime Wing warns people of accounts impersonating it on social media
The Cyber Crime Wing of Tamil Nadu Police has said that fake accounts with its official name and logo had been showing up on social media to mislead and confuse the public. The Cyber Crime Wing identified 10 Instagram and four X accounts impersonating it. These accounts were using the official logo, similar profile names, and visuals resembling government-issued content. All the identified fakes were reported to the respective platforms. Additional Director-General of Police, Cyber Crime Wing, Sandeep Mittal said the Cyber Crime Wing took the impersonation of government entities very seriously and had acted swiftly to investigate and mitigate the damage caused. He cautioned people to be wary of information posted by such accounts, and that the Tamil Nadu Cyber Crime Wing has only one social media account (@tncybercrimeoff) each in Facebook, Instagram, and X. The Cyber Crime Wing is monitoring social media for more impersonators, Mr. Mittal said. The Tamil Nadu Cyber Crime Wing advised the public to be cautious and vigilant about online communications claiming to be from government departments. The public was advised to verify the authenticity of a social media account before responding. The official social media handles of the Tamil Nadu Cyber Crime Wing are as follows: Facebook, Instagram, and X.
