February 25, 2023 - securitylinkindia

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Threats to Human Security

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaFebruary 25, 2023November 14, 2024015 mins

Colonel B S Nagial (Retd) Human security means the safety of people from both violent and non-violent threats. This world is insecure and poses various threats and challenges to people worldwide. These threats could be natural disasters, violent conflicts, poverty, epidemic, economic hardships, social exclusions etc., threatening human security and undermining their safety, security, and sustainable development. Such problems are very complex and need the urgent attention of the authorities. They could pose exponential threats if they are not resolved in time and overlapped.Human security is a concept in international relations that emphasises protecting and promoting individual freedoms, human rights, and well-being. It differs from traditional security concepts focusing mainly on protecting states and their territorial integrity. The human security approach seeks to address a wide range of threats to individuals including economic insecurity, poverty, hunger, disease, political violence, and other forms of violence and exploitation. The concept of human security recognises that individuals are not only threatened by conflict and violence but also by a range of non-military threats such as poverty, disease, and environmental degradation. Human security focuses on the empowerment and protection of individuals rather than the state’s safety. This approach seeks to create a safer and more secure world for all individuals, regardless of where they live or their nationality. There are many different threats to human security, some of which include: Political violence: This includes conflict, civil war, state repression, and human rights abuses. Political violence can result in the displacement of people, loss of life, and damage to infrastructure and institutions. Poverty and economic insecurity: Lack of access to basic needs such as food, water, shelter, and health care can undermine human security and lead to chronic poverty, unemployment, and food insecurity. Disease: Outbreaks of infectious diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, Ebola, and COVID-19, can devastate human security, especially in countries with weak healthcare systems. Environmental degradation: Climate change, deforestation, and other forms of environmental degradation can lead to water scarcity, displacement, and decreased food production, all of which pose threats to human security. Disasters: Natural disasters, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and tsunamis, can have a catastrophic impact on human security, causing loss of life, injury, and displacement. Terrorism: Acts of terrorism can cause widespread fear, injury, and death and can have lasting impacts on economies and societies. Cyberattacks: Cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, such as power grids, financial systems, and communication networks, can significantly impact human security, especially in digital dependence. These are just a few examples of the many threats to human security. It’s essential to address these threats comprehensively and broadly, considering the interconnected nature of these challenges. The state of human security worldwide is complex and varies significantly from region to region and country to country. In some parts of the world, there have been significant improvements in human security in recent years, while the situation has deteriorated in others. In some countries, poverty and hunger remain persistent problems, and access to essential services such as health care and education remains limited. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated these issues, leading to economic instability, job losses, and increased poverty in many countries. However, there have also been some positive developments in human security. For example, there have been improvements in the protection of human rights in some countries, and some states have made progress in reducing conflict and promoting peace. The international community has also significantly tackled global challenges such as poverty, disease, and environmental degradation. Overall, while the state of human security worldwide is mixed, there is still much work to be done to ensure that individuals everywhere have access to the fundamental freedom and protection they need to lead safe, secure, and fulfilling lives. There are many countries around the world where human security is badly affected due to various factors, such as conflict, poverty, disease, and political repression. Some examples include: Syria: The ongoing conflict in Syria has had a devastating impact on human security, with widespread loss of life, displacement, and widespread human rights abuses. Yemen: The ongoing conflict in Yemen has led to widespread food insecurity, disease outbreaks, and displacement of people. The situation has been described as one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. Venezuela: The political and economic crisis in Venezuela has led to widespread poverty, food insecurity, and shortages of essential goods and services, including health care. Afghanistan: The ongoing conflict in Afghanistan has led to widespread displacement, loss of life, and human rights abuses, as well as significant challenges in areas such as health care and education. Sudan: The ongoing conflict and political instability in Sudan have led to widespread displacement, loss of life, and human rights abuses, as well as food insecurity and disease outbreaks. These are just a few examples of the many countries where human security is badly affected. It’s important to note that human security is not only affected by conflict and violence but also by a wide range of non-military threats, such as poverty, disease, and environmental degradation. In many countries, a combination of these factors exacerbates the challenges to human security. How can we ensure human security? Ensuring human security requires a multi-faceted approach that addresses many threats and challenges. Some key steps that can be taken to ensure human security include: Promoting peace and stability: By reducing conflict and promoting peace, governments and the international community can create a safer and more secure environment for individuals. Protecting human rights: Governments and the international community must take steps to protect the rights and freedoms of individuals, including freedom of expression, assembly, and religion. Reducing poverty and promoting economic growth: By reducing poverty and fostering economic growth, governments can ensure that individuals have access to the basic needs and services they need to lead secure and fulfilling lives. Combating disease: Governments and the international community must work to prevent and control the spread of infectious diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, Ebola, and COVID-19. Addressing environmental degradation: By addressing environmental degradation, governments and the international community can help ensure a…

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Cyberattack on AIIMS: Is India on Edge of Cyber Pandemic?

MassMediaLink India LLP SecurityLink IndiaFebruary 25, 2023November 14, 2024019 mins

Anil Puri CMD, APS group A first generation serial entrepreneur, thought leader and an action catalyzer rolled into one – Anil Puri is a rare combination of a visionary, an innovator and a strategic thinker. He has used this combination to innovate and implement on-ground many new business ideas. His rich experience in various businesses has enabled him to nurture & mentor innovative ideas and scale them up. Introduction In its quest for digitalization, India has become an easy target for cyberattacks due to poor cybersecurity. The frequency and targets of cyberattacks on India are becoming increasingly alarming. The high-profile ransomware attack on Delhi’s All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on 23 Nov 2022 exposed gaping holes in the country’s cybersecurity infrastructure causing disruption of online services that lasted over two weeks thus bringing to fore the critical infrastructure vulnerability. India’s nodal cybersecurity agency Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) found in its investigation that five AIIMS’ servers were compromised during the cyberattack and nearly 1.3 terabytes of data were encrypted by hackers. But it was hardly an isolated incident. Industry data shows that 2022 has been the worst year so far for India when it comes to cyberattacks – a problem that has only grown with increasing digitalization. Ransomware attacks in India have increased significantly and in an unprecedented numbers. One of the most distinguishing aspects in 2022 was the involvement of state actors. India saw the highest number of cyberattacks on government agencies in 2022. Experts believe that state-sponsored hackers will go after cloud services in 2023 due to growing digital transformation as companies migrate more of their attack surface to these cloud managed services. articles like these, get access to Mint Premium at 25% discount India’s Cyber Vulnerabilities In 2019, CERT-In handled close to 3,94,499 incidents in total, in which it suggested remedial measures for organizations and shared notes on cyber threats and vulnerabilities. In the same year, CERT-In issued 204 security alerts and 38 advisories. The number of incidents handled by CERT-In surged in 2020 to 11,58,208, a near-tripling over the previous year. This surge continued in 2021, which saw 14,02,809 incidents, a 21 per cent increase. The matters CERT-In looks into include website intrusion and malware propagation, malicious code, phishing, distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, website defacements, unauthorized network scanning or probing activities, ransomware attacks, data breaches and vulnerable services. In this backdrop, what will the government and companies do differently in the coming year? As the government readied its legislation on cybersecurity, numerous industry-wide surveys and sector experts say that 2023 will see companies spending significant amounts to secure their digital systems from attacks. CERT-In has also laid out a standard operating procedure for data breaches wherein companies and other organizations are supposed to inform the government of any breach within six hours, although this move has received a mixed reaction since compliance may be challenging. Chronological history of Cyber Attacks on India in last three years. In another report, CloudSEK also reported an uptick in the number of cyberattacks on banking and financial sector. The report, however, identified different patterns when compared between 2021 and 2022. The attacks in 2021 were on a global scale with an equal focus on North America whereas the events in 2022 saw a shift towards Asia. Within Asia, India stood pretty high, with the report characterizing India as ‘the new found hotbed for cyberattacks in Asia.’ The Banking Finance Services and Insurances (BFSI) has been identified as the most targeted sector in the FY 2021-2022. A comparison of the number of cyber events in 2021 and 2022 reveal that the US, India, and Brazil continue to be among the most targeted states. Response of the Nodal Agencies According to government data, in 2019, total number of cyber security incidents tracked by Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) was 3,94,499. The number spiked to 11,58,208 in the year 2020 and further increased to 14,02,809 in 2021. This year, as many as 6,74,021 cyber security incidents were reported till June. Cyber Attack which has put All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi’s servers out of order on November 23 is yet to be resolved completely. Multiple agencies have been looking into the Cyber Attack at the crucial installation of the country. While a case has been registered, the CERT-IN, Delhi Police and other investigating agencies are probing the incident. On December 1. 2022, cyber attackers briefly hacked the Ministry of Jal Shakti’s Twitter handle, the second major Cyber Attack on a government site. A Parliamentary Standing Committee in its report this year observed that there is a significant surge in cyber incidents and cyber security breaches and it is imperative that capabilities and resilience of the country to deal with imminent dangers on cyber space are enhanced proportionately. Cyber Security has to remain at the forefront of agenda/ priority items for the Ministry and no fund crunch should come in the way of ensuring a safe ecosystem as far as the Cyber world is concerned. In fact the Committee feels that the Ministry must dovetail their efforts to achieve a more secured cyber world especially in the wake of renewed challenges in this domain. The Committee, therefore, recommends that funds for cyber security may be increased on a year on basis to forestall any failures in this domain for sheer lack of funds. The report also cited lower fund utili zation with respect to CERT-in, National Cyber Coordination Centre (NCCC) and data governance. “So far as the underutilization of funds under the head is concerned, an amount of Rs. 216 crore had been allocated in BE (Budget Estimate) stage during 2021-22, which was reduced to Rs. 213 crore at RE (Revised Estimate) stage and actual utilization till January, 2022 has been 98.31 crore only,” said the report. As per Information Technology Ministry, the government is operating an automated cyber threat exchange platform for proactively collecting, analyzing and sharing tailored alerts with organizations across sectors for proactive threat mitigation actions by them. The Government has issued…