Highlights

• The central government had earlier said the ongoing ransomware cyberattack didn’t have a serious impact in the country.

• But reports say, Kolkata, Delhi, Bhubaneshwar, Pune and Mumbai were worst hit.

• Corporates are internally trying to resolve it through their IT team.

Amidst contradictory statement from cyber security experts and the Centre that has left many confused about the impact of global cyber attack WannaCry ransomware in India, multiple reports surfaced claiming a fresh round of infections in the country.

According to the cyber security experts, many corporate, institutions and individual have been hit by the ransomware. Only government offices have come forward and have reported the matter but no business enterprise has admitted cyber breach.

NO SERIOUS IMPACT IN INDIA: GOVT

Corporates are internally trying to resolve it through their IT team and those who have not got any back up of their data are resorting to paying the ransom through bitcoin. The central government had earlier said the ongoing ransomware cyberattack didn’t have a serious impact in the country. Cyber-security experts, on the other hand, say the malware has infected at least 48,000 computer systems across various organisations in India raising doubts whether possible ransomware attacks are being properly reported in the country.

Pune-based Quick Heal Technologies has detected over 48,000 MS-17-010 Shadow Broker exploit hits responsible for ‘WannaCry ransomware’ outbreak in India. “The attack is not focused on any particular industry but is widely spread, especially across those organisations, which are online and connected,” Quick Heal Technologies’ managing director Sanjay Katkar said. He explained that 60 per cent of the attempts by the malicious ransomware were targeted at enterprises, while 40 per cent were on individual customers.

“There have been over 700 distress calls by customers in the last few days, following the attack that affected 150 countries. The top five affected cities are Kolkata followed by Delhi, Bhubaneshwar, Pune and Mumbai, with the top top five states being West Bengal, Maharashtra, Gujarat, NCR (Delhi), and Odisha,” he said. Fresh reports of attack have also started getting lodged from other parts of the country. The data system of the government-run City Hospital at Berhampur in Odisha was also allegedly attacked.

Meanwhile, another computer of Community Health Center at Purushottampur was feared to have been hit by WannaCry. Cyber experts claim the outspread of this global cyber threat has also opened a huge market for cyber insurance, which only few opted for. However, there is a huge debate if cyber insurance also covers the ransom paid to cyber criminals.

“Insurance cover only takes care of data or financial loss. Paying extortion money does not come under it. In case the client is using pirated or old software which is making them victim to cyber crime, no money will be paid,” said a senior executive of a private insurance company who also said there is a spike in queries of cyber insurance.