Why is India a Top Target? Breaking Down the Rise of Nation-State Cyberattacks

Given the dynamic nature of cybersecurity threats, nation-state actors continue to pursue India as a key target to exploit weaknesses and further their geopolitical agendas. According to Microsoft's most recent survey, India is one of the top three countries in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region for cyberattacks, highlighting the ongoing threat environment the nation faces. India's prominence as a target, with a noteworthy 13% share of all cyberattacks in the APAC area, indicates the country's increasing digital infrastructure and strategic significance on the world stage.

India must be alert and proactive in strengthening its cybersecurity defences as cyber threats grow in sophistication and scope. It must do this by utilising strong frameworks, partnerships, and technological advancements to protect sensitive data, vital infrastructure, and national interests. India can effectively address the difficulties posed by nation-state actors and safeguard its digital future by implementing a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy that includes threat intelligence, risk mitigation techniques, and cooperative collaborations between government, industry, and academics.

India is one of the few nations that has taken action to safeguard digital infrastructure

Regarding Transmission Control Protocol attacks, India was ranked second last year, but due to recent changes in geopolitics, it is now ranked fifth. According to the research, India is one of the few nations that has taken action to safeguard digital infrastructure, having advanced cyber incident reporting regulations over the past 12 months. 

The Digital Defence Report 2023 states that, on average, Microsoft stopped 4,000 password attempts aimed at Microsoft cloud identities every second. Microsoft said that using AI algorithms to comprehend and defend against cyber threats and illegal activities, it synthesises more than 65 trillion impulses daily, or 750 billion signals per second. The report stated, "We track over 300 unique threat actors, including 50 ransomware groups, 160 nation-state actors, and hundreds of others."

The research made clear that new threats are being created by artificial intelligence. It is also assisting the defenders in fending off these kinds of attacks. The corporation prevented 6.19 lakh distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks and stopped 237 billion brute-force password attack attempts. A denial-of-service (DDoS) assault involves cybercriminals trying to take down a network, server, or service by flooding it with so much traffic that it is inaccessible to legitimate users.

Cyberattacks have made the education sector a top target

Furthermore, password-based attacks targeting cloud identities increased tenfold in the first quarter of 2023, with a particularly noticeable effect on the education sector. This year, there was a startling increase in the number of attempts, with an average of 4,000 password attacks per second exclusively targeting Microsoft cloud identities. The attacks went from about 3 billion per month to over 30 billion. This increase in cyberattacks highlights the creative strategies hackers use to take advantage of holes in cloud-based systems, which puts data security and privacy in serious danger. Cyberattacks have made the education sector a top target, which emphasises how crucial it is to put strong cybersecurity safeguards and proactive threat detection processes in place to protect sensitive data and lessen the likelihood of breaches.

To strengthen defences and successfully counter emerging threats, companies in various industries must prioritise cybersecurity investments, improve employee awareness and training, and work with industry partners and cybersecurity experts. In an increasingly networked and data-driven world, enterprises may reduce risks, safeguard their digital assets, and maintain the integrity of cloud-based systems by taking a proactive and watchful approach to cyber threats.

How to protect yourself from cyberattacks?

Updating software and system security is essential to protecting your online identity from ever-changing cyberattacks. You should upgrade your operating system regularly, as well as your web browser and software programs, with the most recent security patches to fix any vulnerabilities that hackers might exploit. Whenever possible, implementing two-factor authentication and using solid and one-of-a-kind passwords for online accounts provide an additional barrier of protection against unwanted access. It is crucial to be alert against scams and avoid opening suspicious attachments or links in texts or emails. Infections with viruses can be identified and prevented by installing reliable antivirus and anti-malware software and using caution while downloading free files. Risks associated with internet access are reduced by adopting secure surfing techniques, including avoiding dangerous websites and utilising secure connections. Additionally, proactive protection of your digital assets and personal data is ensured by being aware of social engineering techniques and keeping up with cybersecurity dangers through reputable sources.