Indian Army to use e-governance, create cloud database for soldiers

[Hindustani78]

Army to use e-governance, create cloud database for soldiers | Zee News
Last Updated: Wednesday, February 4, 2015 - 00:51

New Delhi: The Indian Army plans to use e-governance widely and has an ambitious plan for a cloud database which can store all unclassified information about soldiers.


"Things like certificates and other information about soldiers can be saved in a cloud. This will be accessible from any place and save time," army sources said Tuesday.

This is part of the army's ambitious plan to connect soldiers through an internal network of optical fibres.

"The army data network is a backbone which provides each unit of the army a digital data capability," an army official said on condition of anonymity.

Computer training programmes for soldiers have been on for long, and this will make the soldiers tech-savvy.

The sources said the policy on giving telephone connectivity was also being reviewed, but refused to comment what changes might be made.

This comes as Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year called for a 'Digital Armed Force' and asked the defence forces to give serious thought to upgrading technological skills.

Army Chief Gen. Dalbir Singh, during the Army Day parade this year, acknowledged the emergence of cyberspace as the new domain of warfare and the constant threat emerging out of it.

He also stressed the need of a robust cyber defence architecture to protect the networks.

 

[Hindustani78]

Army readies for digital battlefield - The Times of India
TNN | Feb 4, 2015, 01.17 AM IST

NEW DELHI: The 1.13-million strong Army is slowly but surely going digital. The overall aim is to build a force capable of fighting high-tech conflicts in the digitised battlefield of tomorrow, both on the western and eastern fronts, as well as using information technology in other arenas.

For one, the Army's 13 existing corps (around 70,000 soldiers each), as also the new mountain strike corps now being raised as a counter to China, are gradually getting advanced electronic warfare systems.

For another, the Army also wants to equip all its corps with the secure mobile cellular communication systems (MCCS), with the crucial Srinagar-based 15 Corps being the first to get it at a cost of around Rs 250 crore. Four other corps are in different stages of getting equipped with the encrypted communication systems.

The force is also setting up the infrastructure ready for a highly-encrypted Cloud storage system, which will store all non-classified information of every soldier that can be accessed as and when needed.

"The overall aim is to reach the last solider ... empower them digitally. All the 45 regimental training centres as well as other training establishments, for instance, are running capsule courses for jawans to make them computer literate," said an officer on Tuesday.

Having already digitised databases, pay and allowances, inventory management and the like, the "nine pillars" of the framework include Army-wide area data network, "universal access to phones" and "need-based access to internet". Ultimately, the force wants "converged networks'' of data, voice and satellite right down to the battalion-level.

Along with the real world, systems are also being put in place for the battles on the virtual one. Cyber-attacks, after all, can disable an adversary's economic, communication and strategic networks. Consequently, while sharpening its electronic warfare capabilities, the Army is also boosting the ``cyber-security'' of its information networks right down to the level of divisions, along with periodic audits, to guard against cyber-warfare and data thefts.

Both China and Pakistan have bolstered their cyber-warfare or information warfare capabilities at a rapid clip over the last decade. China, in particular, has made cyber-warfare one of its topmost military priorities, with Chinese hackers breaking into sensitive computer networks of the US, UK, Germany and even India on a regular basis.

 

[Hindustani78]

//economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/61141277.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

Recently, Pakistani hackers compromised 10 Indian websites which included National Aeronautics, Army Institute of Management and Technology, Defence Institute of Advanced Technology, Army Institute of Management, and the Board of Research in Nuclear Sciences.

The hacker group — Pakistan Haxor Crew — claimed the action was to avenge the defacement of the Pakistan Railways website by an Indian hacker and to show solidarity with Kashmiris.

Last year, reports emerged in Australia that the entire design plans that reveal the capability of India's Scorpene submarine fleet were leaked.

The design plans were leaked apparently from French manufacturer DCNS that is the designer of the system.

According to reports, more than 22,000 pages of plans had been leaked.

An IIT Kanpur study shared with Parliament's Committee on Finance this year said attacks from the 'Equation group' — which a WikiLeaks reports said was a clandestine CIA and NSA programme — infected India's telecom and military sectors and research institutes.

The government is finally reacting to the threat with a plan to create a new tri-service agency for cyber warfare. The Defence Cyber Agency will work in coordination with the National Cyber Security Advisor.It will have more than 1,000 experts who will be distributed into a number of formations of the Army, Navy and IAF.

According to reports, the new Defence Cyber Agency will have both offensive and defensive capacity.

The Defence Cyber Agency is seen as a precursor of a cyber command. After reports that Russia meddled in the US elections by hacking machines and creating propaganda on the internet and the recent ransomware and other cyber attacks being attributed to North Korea, cyber warfare is gaining importance.

According to experts, North Koreans have developed an advanced cyber program that steals hundreds of millions of dollars and can trigger global havoc.

Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju admitted last month that there was a huge gap in India's capability and capacity when it came to cyber warfare and it was imperative to narrow down this difference to discourage cyber attackers.


China has already developed strong cyber warfare capacity. The next war may well have to be fought on the internet where a country’s vital networks and infrastructure would be on target that will create bigger disruption that actual wars.

Equally important is cyber propaganda. During the Doklam conflict, China tried its best to unleash cyber propaganda on India and indulged in complex psy-ops.

A Defence Cyber Agency could be the first step the government plans to for critical infrastructure and military networks that are increasingly becoming dependent on the Internet, thus increasing vulnerabilities.

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[Hindustani78]

Written by Sushant Kulkarni | Pune | Published: February 11, 2018 3:33 pm

Lieutenant Colonel Amit Chamoli being awarded the Sena Medal (Gallantry) by Southern Army Commander Lieutenant General D R Soni at the Investiture Ceremony in AFMC, Pune on Saturday. Express
http://indianexpress.com/article/in...cation-and-training-says-lt-gen-soni-5059596/


The Indian Army has put in place enhanced security standards to fight the increasing threat of cyber menace, said Southern Army Commander Lieutenant General D R Soni at an event in Pune on Saturday. On the sidelines of an Investiture Ceremony held at the Dhanvantari Auditorium of the Armed Forces Medical College, Lt Gen Soni said being educated about cyber security threat was the key to fighting it.

Responding to a query on the Army’s policy on cyber security in the last few years, Lt Gen Soni said, “All of us use electronic gadgets like phones and computers. The whole unit, or large portions of these devices, are manufactured abroad… for example, in China. It is an economic reality. There are countries which are inimical to us. When we started with cyber security, we only looked at computers. These days we are looking at all devices — phones, gadgets, and even cameras. We don’t know what is going to a remote server, and that’s something we are worried about.”

“We have got enhanced systems, we follow military discipline in this regard. We don’t want people to know about me, my family, my accounts and above all my country and the country’s security. So, the punishments for the violations are also very strict. Earlier, because of lack of cyber education, we had a lot of problems. One of the most important ways of fighting cyber menace is education on the issue. So, we have not only enhanced our security standards, but have also increased the level of education and training in that direction,” he added.

On tri-services integration, Lt Gen Soni said, “We have taken long strides in jointmanship. There was a time when we did not talk to each other. Today, we do joint training, joint planning and joint exercise, and we know each others’ capabilities and what we need from each other. There is a very enhanced degree of jointmanship that we have reached, but it will always be an exercise in progress. The Air Marshals, Generals and Admirals have grown up together in the services, some of us are batchmates. So, undoubtedly, there is more communication.”

Asked about the evolution of the Armoured Corps, as seen by him, the senior-most officer of the Corps, he said, “The tank was introduced at the time of the first World War, mainly to tackle trenches and obstacles. Till the last decade, we were looking at tanks only in deserts, semi-deserts and plains. But now, we have sent tanks to snow-bound high-altitude areas…because the tank is a very versatile system. The officers and men of the Corps are also part of Rashtriya Rifles and are fighting asymmetric and non-conventional war. So, the Armoured Corps is a classic example of a flexible and adaptable arm.”

Speaking about the recent instances of espionage activities brought to light by agencies, the Army Commander said, “When asked ‘how was the fort brought down’, the answer is, ‘because someone from inside opened the door’… we have elaborate systems to prevent these attempts of spying.”

 

[xyxmt]

how about some decent food first

 

[seesonic]

Fake news. Indians buy anything they want because they can afford it.

 

[Hindustani78]

31-August, 2018 13:32 IST

Mancheswar Campus of National Skill Training Institute (NSTI) Bhubaneswar

First-ever National Skill Training Institute(NSTI)’s Mancheswar Campus in Barang, Bhubaneswar on July 16, 2018. was inaugurated.

The institute shall be equipped with state-of-the-art facility to impart skill development courses to the trainers and assessors along with training of candidates in new age courses catering to the needs of the industry, designed keeping in mind the youth of the institutes’ catchment areas. National Skill Training Institutes (NSTI) which will function under Directorate General of Training (DGT), will include following training activities like:

• Trainers Training (Long term/Short term)
• Refresher Training (Long term/Short term)
• Re-skilling/ Up skilling courses
• Certificate courses and Common Facility Centre (CFS)

The inauguration was followed by the commencement of Systems, Applications and Products (SAP) Master Trainers Programme in which instructors from other NSTIs of India participated. The aim is to create future ready workforce through providing access to the knowledge of innovative enterprise IT solutions.

SAP India and the Directorate General of Training (DGT), Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Government of India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Skill Development on Enterprise Software and Data Sciences on 16th July during the foundation laying ceremony of the National Skill Training Institute . The joint program between Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and SAP is planned on following broad pillars:

1. Training on enterprise software: SAP will train a pool of trainers at NSTI Bhubaneswar on Business One enterprise software. After the master training, NSTI Bhubaneswar trainers will run these programs autonomously for youth. This will provide exposure on Enterprise software to youth and help in enhancing their employability. SAP Business One is an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software that allows small and medium sized enterprises to manage their entire business – from accounting and financials, purchasing, inventory, sales and customer relationships, and project management, to operations and human resources.
2. Training on Data Sciences: SAP will conduct a special training on Data Sciences for the participants/faculty at NSTI.

The courses proposed to be introduced from October 2018 are:

1. SAP software training
2. IOT Technician (Smart City)
3. IOT Technician (Smart Healthcare)
4. IOT Technician (Smart Agriculture)

“Revitalizing the existing training infrastructure and developing new institutions in unserved and underserved areas, with focus that these institutions continue to provide relevant and employable skills to our youth, has been one of the main driving forces in our Skill Development efforts. Setting up of this NSTI in Bhubaneswar, is yet another step to empower the youth of the State. This would also help us address the issue of migration,”.

National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) which will support the recently introduced nation-wide counselling campaign. The campaign will be implemented by the Kendras at the field level. Each Kendras will have counsellors who will introduce the youth to the skill ecosystem and counsel them on their path to growth basis their education, interest and aptitude.

Special campus for 1000 has been set up and is the largest ever facility of its kind created. An area of 4 acres has now been allocated by the military administration which will be developed into a IT park, each sector will be a part of various committees which will be formed to manage the cyber attacks. Another Special large facility in or around Lucknow and Varanasi will be created.

The cyber defence headquarters has been constructed on 1.4 hectare of land through National Building Construction Corporation (NBCC) at a cost of 57.48 Crores (including cost of the land) with a capacity of 1000 inmates.It has 100 rooms/dormitories. It consists of ground plus three floors with the facilities of ramp, lifts, supply of adequate electricity, water and other amenities for meeting the requirement of senior officers with special challenges. The facility is also equipped with a large modern kitchen and a skill cum training centre. It also has two dispensaries and physiotherapy facility and the inmates will be given regular medical check ups. The construction of the headquarters has been funded by Central Government.

 

[Hindustani78]

Special Correspondent
Bengaluru, September 27, 2018 13:40 IST
Updated: September 27, 2018 17:00 IST

https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/t...ndia-report/article25056587.ece?homepage=true

Most users install advance security software on their laptops and desktops but often neglect their mobile devices.

More than 6,31,000 cybersecurity threats were detected on Android devices in Indians between April and June this year, according to a report by Quick Heal, a provider of security products and solutions.

On a daily basis, Quick Heal detected more than 2,000 malware, 3,000 potentially unwanted applications (PUA) and 1,000 adware, according to the report titled Quick Heal Quarterly Threat Report Q2 2018.

The top ten Android malware of Q2 2018 include Android.Smsreg.DA, Android.Airpush.J, and Android.Guerrilla.M, amongst others, which were propagated through third-party app stores. The PUA family comprised 46.2% of the total detections in the year.

The threats increased compared to the previous quarter.

What makes the data all the more alarming is the low awareness about the need for adequate security amongst mobile users, according to the report.

Most users install advance security software on their laptops and desktops but often neglect their mobile devices. This leaves a major gap in their overall security posture and presents a lucrative opportunity to cybercriminals. The increase in the number of mobile-based threats such as Banking Trojan and cryptomining attacks is indicative of a growing shift towards exploiting vulnerable mobile devices to compromise sensitive personal information of mobile users, the report stated.