Dehradun: A ransomware attack on the Uttarakhand State Data Center forced several government websites and services offline, affecting critical functions like police case filings and treasury operations. The attack happened within a quick 10-minute window, and the hackers left a ransom note on the State’s IT servers.
Instead of paying the ransom, authorities launched an investigation, bringing in the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), CERT-In, and other agencies. Early reports suggest that the malware might have slipped in through an unauthorized app, though investigators are still figuring out if it was a targeted attack.
Teams have been working to restore services and clean up the systems. While some operations like e-filing are back online, about 20 websites remain down due to outdated software. IT officials plan to rebuild these sites with stronger security. To prevent future attacks, the agency is hiring new cybersecurity staff, including a Chief Security Officer, to help protect the state’s data infrastructure.
Discussion about this post