New Cybersecurity Threat Alert Issued

The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT In) has issued a high severity cybersecurity threat alert following the detection of a sophisticated malware campaign targeting Indian financial institutions, government portals, and critical infrastructure. The malware dubbed "ShadowStrike" exploits zero day vulnerabilities in widely used enterprise software platforms and is believed to be the work of an advanced persistent threat (APT) group. CERT In has urged all organizations to update systems, strengthen firewall configurations, enable multi factor authentication, and monitor unusual outbound traffic. ShadowStrike uses fileless execution methods, making it difficult to detect with standard antivirus tools. It can steal credentials, exfiltrate sensitive data, and remain dormant for long periods. The Reserve Bank of India has directed banks and NBFCs to conduct immediate security audits. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) is working with cybersecurity firms to deploy countermeasures and threat intelligence feeds. This comes at a time when India is rapidly digitizing its economy, making it increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks. Cybersecurity experts stress the need for improved employee training, zero trust architecture, and public private collaboration on digital safety. The National Cyber Coordination Centre (NCCC) is also updating its threat database and launching public awareness campaigns. India’s cybersecurity policy is expected to undergo a significant revision to address these evolving threats.