VIJAYAWADA: Two months have elapsed since the incidents of Aadhaar data leak and breach of people’s private data from the government websites rocked the State. But the IT department is still grappling with the issues. In the wake of such incidents, cyber security researchers pointed out that the State government still does not have a platform on which the vulnerabilities of the websites and data breaches could be reported. To address this, the IT department is designing a portal for immediately responding to any issues related to cyber security and breach of private data.
When cyber security researcher Kodali Srinivas, who spotted vulnerabilities in the State government websites and exposed the availability of sensitive public data in the past few months, tried to report the State-run generic medical store Anna Sanjivani for breach of private data, he was surprised to find that the State government did not have a platform where he could report. “It has been two months since State officials made tall claims of rewarding those who helped them plug the vulnerabilities, but there is no way to report the issues. Even the highly-publicised Andhra Pradesh Cyber Security Operations Centre (APCSOC) does not have a website of its own,” he explained.
He had reported to the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) and National Critical Information Infrastructure Protection Centre (NCIIPC) about the free availability of people’s private data on Anna Sanjivini website, and both of them had responded immediately, he said.
Having a platform for raising cyber security-related issues would result in a faster rectification, the expert added. It is learnt that the IT department is now in the process of designing a special system to address the issue.
Speaking to TNIE, managing director (MD) of Andhra Pradesh Technology Services Ltd (APTSL) V Premchand explained, “We are designing a special portal called Andhra Pradesh Computer Response Team (APCRT) to immediately respond whenever there are issues related to cyber security and breach of private data. Anybody who spots discrepancies can reach us using APCRT. It will be launched shortly.” Once launched, the MD added, AP would become the first State in the country to have such a portal. The APTSL is the nodal agency for e-governance initiatives and the organisation looking after the APCSOC also.
Premchand further explained that the APCRT would also have a call centre with 10 phone lines. “The APCRT will also send advisories to public on how to secure their electronic gadgets and how to get insulated against cyber attacks,” he said.
Computer response team planned
The proposed AP Computer Response Team will immediately respond whenever there are issues related to cyber security and breach of private data. Anybody who spots discrepancies can reach the APTSL using the portal for help. APTSL is the nodal agency for e-governance initiatives