Latest news with #VivekSrivastava
Hans India
6 hours ago
- Business
- Hans India
72 pc Indian firms hit by AI-powered cyberattacks in past year: Report
Nearly 72 per cent of organisations in India have been targeted by Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered cyberattacks in the past year, a new report said on Sunday. The report released by cybersecurity firm Fortinet and global research agency IDC warns that AI has become a new weapon in the hands of cybercriminals, enabling them to launch faster, more sophisticated, and stealthier attacks than ever before. The findings reveal that these AI-driven threats are not only growing in volume but also becoming increasingly difficult to detect. Many of them exploit vulnerabilities in human behaviour, misconfigured systems, and identity management frameworks -- areas where traditional cybersecurity tools often fall short. The most common AI-enabled threats in India include credential stuffing, brute force attacks, deepfake impersonation in business emails, AI-generated phishing scams, and polymorphic malware that keeps changing to avoid detection. What's more alarming is the lack of preparedness among Indian firms. Only 14 per cent of organisations say they are very confident in their ability to defend against such advanced attacks. Meanwhile, 36 per cent admit that these AI-based threats are outpacing their ability to detect them, and 21 per cent have no systems in place to track them at all -- leaving a huge security gap across industries. "The rise of AI in the cybercriminal toolkit is no longer a future threat -- it's here now," said Simon Piff, Vice-President at IDC Asia-Pacific. "Organisations need to move beyond reactive strategies and adopt predictive, intelligence-driven cybersecurity models to stay ahead," he added. The report also finds that cyber risk has become a constant in the lives of Indian businesses, no longer limited to occasional incidents. Attacks are now targeting cloud infrastructure, software supply chains, and zero-day vulnerabilities. Traditional threats like phishing and ransomware still exist, but newer, more complex attacks -- such as insider threats and cloud misconfigurations -- are seen as more damaging. Vivek Srivastava, Country Manager for India and SAARC at Fortinet, said: "AI is now both the biggest threat and the most powerful defence. Our goal is to help Indian businesses shift from scattered tools to unified, AI-driven security platforms that are built to scale and adapt." Rashish Pandey, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at Fortinet Asia & ANZ, added that the focus is now shifting from just infrastructure to more strategic priorities like identity security, cyber resilience, and access control.
Mint
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Mint
'India's sovereignty is unshaken': BSF as it retaliates to Pakistan's unprovoked firing
Border Security Force(BSF) Jammu said that on May 9, Pakistan opened fire on its posts in Jammu. In retaliation, BSF inflicted significant damage on Pakistan Rangers' assets while reaffirming their commitment to India's sovereignty. BSF Jammu said in a post on X, 'On 09 May 2025, from about 2100 hrs, Pakistan opened fire on BSF posts in the Jammu sector without any provocation. BSF is responding in a commensurate manner causing widespread damage to posts and assets of Pakistan Rangers along the International Boundary. Our resolve to protect India's sovereignty is unshaken.' ' The terrorist launch pad at Looni, district Sialkot opposite Akhnoor area was completely destroyed by the BSF. Our resolve to protect India's sovereignty is unshaken,' the BSF Jammu said. On Friday night, India thwarted a wave of drone attacks from Pakistan at 26 locations across the northern and western regions, including a strike near Srinagar airport. Authorities accused Islamabad of dangerously using civilian aircraft as cover for its aerial operations, putting passenger flights at risk. According to the Indian government, between 300 and 400 Turkish-made drones were launched across 36 locations—from Leh to Sir Creek—in a failed bid to strike Indian military installations on Thursday night. Earlier on Thursday night, BSF said it had foiled an infiltration bid from across the Indo-Pak International Border in Jammu, killing at least seven terrorists and destroying a Rangers post. This infiltration bid was supported by fire from the Pakistan Rangers post Dhandhar, a BSF spokesperson said. Two more people were killed after Pakistani troops resorted to heavy shelling in areas near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said. With this, the death toll due to shelling from across the LoC in recent days rose to 18. In a communication to the chief secretaries of all states and Union territories, Director General of Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards Vivek Srivastava said preparing the civil administration and adopting precautionary measures against hostile attacks in the states and Union territories are governed by the Civil Defence Act and Rules, 1968 The Centre also empowered the Army Chief to call out "every officer and every enrolled person" of the Territorial Army (TA) to provide for essential guard or to be embodied to support or supplement the regular Army.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Centre urges states to grant emergency buying powers to civil defence teams
In view of an ongoing military conflict between India and Pakistan, the Centre has asked all states to give emergency procurement power to the heads of the civil defence authorities so that they can make the required purchases in case of an emergency situation. In a communication to the chief secretaries of all states and Union territories, Director General of Fire Services, Civil Defence and Home Guards Vivek Srivastava said preparing the civil administration and adopting precautionary measures against hostile attacks in the states and Union territories are governed by the Civil Defence Act and Rules, 1968. Citing the current hostile-attack scenario, the attention of the chief secretaries was drawn to section 11 of the Civil Defence Rules, 1968 that empowers the states to take certain measures deemed necessary for the protection of people and properties from injury or damage or for ensuring the due maintenance of vital services in the event of a hostile attack. The communication said the funds of the local authority shall be applicable to the payment of the charges and expenses incidental to such compliance, and priority shall be given to such compliance over all other duties and obligations of the local authority. "I shall be grateful if section 11 of the CD (Civil Defence) Rules, 1968, can be invoked and necessary emergency procurement powers to the director civil defence of your state/UT may be granted so that efficient implementation of the necessary precautionary measures can be implemented," the communication said. There has been a rising military conflict between the two neighbouring countries following India's strikes on multiple locations in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on Wednesday and Pakistan's attempts to hit Indian military sites on Thursday, which were thwarted by the Indian armed forces. The Indian strikes were carried out in the wake of the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam in which 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed.
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
LDA chief acts on illegal construction plaints; FIR ordered, JE chargesheeted
Lucknow: A surprising case surfaced during the Janata Adalat organised by the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) on Thursday. Bablu Ali, who was allotted a plot in Transport Nagar by the LDA in 2007, reported that when he visited the site for construction six months ago, he discovered that the same plot was allegedly registered in the name of another person with the same name. The plot was subsequently sold to a third the complaint, LDA chairperson and divisional commissioner Dr Roshan Jacob ordered a detailed inquiry to determine how the registration error occurred and ensure corrective action is taken.A total of 37 complaints were heard during the public hearing on Thursday, with nine of them getting resolved on the spot. Senior officials, including LDA vice chairperson Prathamesh Kumar and secretary Vivek Srivastava were present at the complaint was raised by corporator Rajesh Singh Gabbar about the ongoing construction near a gurdwara in Papermill Colony, Nishatganj, despite sealing of the site by LDA. Acting on the complaint, Jacob ordered an immediate halt to the construction. Junior engineer Surendra Kumar Dixit was also chargesheeted for negligence and his suspension was recommended to the applicant Jyoti Agarwal from Thakurganj complained that her brother built a commercial unit on the second floor of their ancestral property in Chowk without formal property division. Although LDA earlier sealed the structure, her brother allegedly removed the seal and continued construction. Jacob directed that an FIR be filed in the Singh from Khadra Shaktinagar also appeared at the hearing wearing a protest banner. He alleged that a neighbour began construction without map approval and complaints were not acted upon. Officials assured him of prompt secretary Vivek Srivastava said, "The Janata Adalat is organised to address the grievances of both the allottees and general public. We are committed to resolving the complaints raised by citizens within a fixed timeframe."
News18
05-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
‘Preparedness Push, Not A Panic Call': What Does The May 7 Civil Defence Drill Entail?
Last Updated: District magistrates will update their list of civil defence volunteers starting May 7 and update their contact numbers in case of an emergency for quick deployment. Amidst the uncertainty over what action India might take against Pakistan following the deadly attack on civilians by terrorists in Pahalgam, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs on Monday asked several states to conduct mock drills 'for effective civil defence on May 7". DG Civil Defence Vivek Srivastava said that the mock drill would be a pan-India exercise. In an exclusive conversation with CNN-News18, Srivastava said: 'We have been doing these civil defence drills in districts on a regular basis but this time it will be pan-India. The exercise could spread out over a couple of days". Authorities, however, said that this was not meant to cause panic but to help India revisit the civil defence SOP for any eventuality. The last time a civil defence mock drill of this nature was conducted was in December last year, in the city of Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh. The pan-India drill to be held this Wednesday is 'different", officials highlighted. What Does The Mock Drill Entail? Civil Defence is governed by the Civil Defence Act. Under this act, the District Magistrate (DM) or the district collector is assigned the nodal officer for civil defence in each district. Starting Wednesday (May 7), the DMs will revisit the list of civil defence volunteers and update the contact numbers and names which will be prepared in case of any emergency. An official said that vulnerable districts throughout India have been identified and the collectors will lead the drill on Wednesday in these districts. 'This will be to test the operational efficacy in vulnerable districts and train civilians. It is a multi stake holder exercise that will be undertaken," a senior official who is in charge of civil defence told CNN-News18. 'The list should be at the ready disposal of the DM to deploy the volunteers in times of emergency," a senior official said. 'It is a requirement under the Geneva convention to protect civilians in times of war. So we must empower them, train them to protect themselves. The last such training was in 1999 and before that in 1971. Most young people of this generation are unaware of such a situation. Hence the necessity of the drill," the senior official further added. Air Raid Warning Sirens One of the key components of the drill would be to conduct checks on the air raid warning system. 'It is the first step which warns civilians in an emergency situation. The Air Force sounds the alert and each district must ensure that its air raid warning sirens are functioning properly," a civil defence official told CNN-News18. Bunkers In some forward areas, the next step entails civilians taking cover in a protected area. Forward areas (areas close to the frontline if a battle breaks out) like Kashmir's Uri have already started preparing the community bunkers. Students on the international border like Arnia have already practiced mock drills to evacuate in times of an emergency. Blackout Blackouts will also be practised during the May 7 mock drills. 'If a blackout siren is sounded, the standard operating procedure must be followed. The drill will assess whether the sirens are working and how effectively people respond. All stakeholders should be well-versed with the SOP," officials explained. Safety Of Vital Installations Civil Defence officials explained that a list of vital installations is codified under the act. These might include defence, para military installations, hospitals and installations of strategic importance. 'There is no scope for interpretation here. The list will be available to all concerned and as soon as the order comes everyone will have to work together to ensure that the vital installations as mentioned in the list are protected," officials said. Training Civilians And Students The final aspect of the drill will be to familiarise civilians, students, hospital staff with civil defence volunteers so that their instructions are followed in times of emergency. Evacuation plans will be discussed with authorities in such institutions when the mock drill happens. First Published: News india 'Preparedness Push, Not A Panic Call': What Does The May 7 Civil Defence Drill Entail?
