Protection of your social media accounts

Introduction

Twitter Inc.’s appeal against barring orders for specific accounts issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology was denied by a single judge on the Karnataka High Court. Twitter Inc. was also given an Rs. 50 lakh fine by Justice Krishna Dixit, who claimed the social media corporation had approached the court defying government directives.

As a foreign corporation, Twitter’s locus standi had been called into doubt by the government, which said they were ineligible to apply Articles 19 and 21 to their situation. Additionally, the government claimed that because Twitter was only designed to serve as an intermediary, there was no “jural relationship” between Twitter and its users.

The Issue

In accordance with Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, the Ministry issued the directives. Nevertheless, Twitter had argued in its appeal that the orders “fall foul of Section 69A both substantially and procedurally.” Twitter argued that in accordance with 69A, account holders were to be notified before having their tweets and accounts deleted. However, the Ministry failed to provide these account holders with any notices.

On June 4, 2022, and again on June 6, 2022, the government sent letters to Twitter’s compliance officer requesting that they come before them and provide an explanation for why the Blocking Orders were not followed and why no action should be taken against them.

Twitter replied on June 9 that the content against which it had not followed the blocking orders does not seem to be a violation of Section 69A. On June 27, 2022, the Government issued another notice stating Twitter was violating its directions. On June 29, Twitter replied, asking the Government to reconsider the direction on the basis of the doctrine of proportionality. On June 30, 2022, the Government withdrew blocking orders on ten account-level URLs but gave an additional list of 27 URLs to be blocked. On July 10, more accounts were blocked. Compiling the orders “under protest,” Twitter approached the HC with the petition challenging the orders.

Legality

Additionally, the government claimed that because Twitter was only designed to serve as an intermediary, there was no “jural relationship” between Twitter and its users.

Government attorney Additional Solicitor General R Sankaranarayanan argued that tweets mentioning “Indian Occupied Kashmir” and the survival of LTTE commander Velupillai Prabhakaran were serious enough to undermine the integrity of the nation.

Twitter, on the other hand, claimed that its users have pushed for these rights. Additionally, Twitter maintained that under Article 14 of the Constitution, even as a foreign company, they were entitled to certain rights, such as the right to equality. They also argued that the reason for the account blocking in each case was not stated and that Section 69a’s provision for blocking a URL should only apply to the offending URL rather than the entire account because blocking the entire account would prevent the creation of information while blocking the offending tweet only applied to already-created information.

Conclusion

The evolution of cyberspace has been substantiated by big tech companies like Facebook, Google, Twitter, Amazon and many more. These companies have been instrumental in leading the spectrum of emerging technologies and creating a blanket of ease and accessibility for users. Compliance with laws and policies is of utmost priority for the government, and the new bills and policies are empowering the Indian cyberspace. Non Compliance will be taken very seriously, and the same is legalised under the Intermediary Guidelines 2021 and 2022 by Meity. Referring to Section 79 of the Information Technology Act, which pertains to an exemption from liability of intermediary in some instances, it was said, “Intermediary is bound to obey the orders which the designate authority/agency which the government fixes from time to time.”

Disclaimer:

This report is based on extensive research conducted by CyberPeace Research using publicly available information, and advanced analytical techniques. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions presented are based on the data available at the time of study and aim to provide insights into global ransomware trends.

The statistics mentioned in this report are specific to the scope of this research and may vary based on the scope and resources of other third-party studies. Additionally, all data referenced is based on claims made by threat actors and does not imply confirmation of the breach by CyberPeace. CyberPeace includes this detail solely to provide factual transparency and does not condone any unlawful activities. This information is shared only for research purposes and to spread awareness. CyberPeace encourages individuals and organizations to adopt proactive cybersecurity measures to protect against potential threats.

CyberPeace Research does not claim to have identified or attributed specific cyber incidents to any individual, organization, or nation-state beyond the scope of publicly observable activities and available information. All analyses and references are intended for informational and awareness purposes only, without any intention to defame, accuse, or harm any entity.

While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, CyberPeace Research is not liable for any errors, omissions, subsequent interpretations and any unlawful activities of the findings by third parties. The report is intended to inform and support cybersecurity efforts globally and should be used as a guide to foster proactive measures against cyber threats.

Executive Summary: 

The 2024 ransomware landscape reveals alarming global trends, with 166 Threat Actor Groups leveraging 658 servers/underground resources and mirrors to execute 5,233 claims across 153 countries. Monthly fluctuations in activity indicate strategic, cyclical targeting, with peak periods aligned with vulnerabilities in specific sectors and regions. The United States was the most targeted nation, followed by Canada, the UK, Germany, and other developed countries, with the northwestern hemisphere experiencing the highest concentration of attacks. Business Services and Healthcare bore the brunt of these operations due to their high-value data, alongside targeted industries such as Pharmaceuticals, Mechanical, Metal, Electronics, and Government-related professional firms. Retail, Financial, Technology, and Energy sectors were also significantly impacted.

This research was conducted by CyberPeace Research using a systematic modus operandi, which included advanced OSINT (Open-Source Intelligence) techniques, continuous monitoring of Ransomware Group activities, and data collection from 658 servers and mirrors globally. The team utilized data scraping, pattern analysis, and incident mapping to track trends and identify hotspots of ransomware activity. By integrating real-time data and geographic claims, the research provided a comprehensive view of sectoral and regional impacts, forming the basis for actionable insights.

The findings emphasize the urgent need for proactive Cybersecurity strategies, robust defenses, and global collaboration to counteract the evolving and persistent threats posed by ransomware.

Overview:

This report provides insights into ransomware activities monitored throughout 2024. Data was collected by observing 166 Threat Actor Groups using ransomware technologies across 658 servers/underground resources and mirrors, resulting in 5,233 claims worldwide. The analysis offers a detailed examination of global trends, targeted sectors, and geographical impact.

Top 10 Threat Actor Groups:

The ransomware group ‘ransomhub’ has emerged as the leading threat actor, responsible for 527 incidents worldwide. Following closely are ‘lockbit3’ with 522 incidents and ‘play’ with 351. Other Groups are ‘akira’, ‘hunters’, ‘medusa’, ‘blackbasta’, ‘qilin’, ‘bianlian’, ‘incransom’. These groups usually employ advanced tactics to target critical sectors, highlighting the urgent need for robust cybersecurity measures to mitigate their impact and protect organizations from such threats.

Monthly Ransomware Incidents:

In January 2024, the value began at 284, marking the lowest point on the chart. The trend rose steadily in the subsequent months, reaching its first peak at 557 in May 2024. However, after this peak, the value dropped sharply to 339 in June. A gradual recovery follows, with the value increasing to 446 by August. September sees another decline to 389, but a sharp rise occurs afterward, culminating in the year’s highest point of 645 in November. The year concludes with a slight decline, ending at 498 in December 2024 (till 28th of December).

Top 10 Targeted Countries:

1. The United States consistently topped the list as the primary target probably due to its advanced economic and technological infrastructure.
2. Other heavily targeted nations include Canada, UK, Germany, Italy, France, Brazil, Spain, and India.
3. A total of 153 countries reported ransomware attacks, reflecting the global scale of these cyber threats

Top Affected Sectors:

1. Business Services and Healthcare faced the brunt of ransomware threat due to the sensitive nature of their operations.
2. Specific industries under threats:
   1. Pharmaceutical, Mechanical, Metal, and Electronics industries.
   2. Professional firms within the Government sector.
3. Other sectors:
   1. Retail, Financial, Technology, and Energy sectors were also significant targets.

Geographical Impact:

The continuous and precise OSINT(Open Source Intelligence) work on the platform, performed as a follow-up action to data scraping, allows a complete view of the geography of cyber attacks based on their claims. The northwestern region of the world appears to be the most severely affected by Threat Actor groups. The figure below clearly illustrates the effects of this geographic representation on the map.

Ransomware Threat Trends in India:

In 2024, the research identified 98 ransomware incidents impacting various sectors in India, marking a 55% increase compared to the 63 incidents reported in 2023. This surge highlights a concerning trend, as ransomware groups continue to target India's critical sectors due to its growing digital infrastructure and economic prominence.

Top Threat Actors Group Targeted India:

Among the following threat actors ‘killsec’ is the most frequent threat. ‘lockbit3’  follows as the second most prominent threat, with significant but lower activity than killsec. Other groups, such as ‘ransomhub’, ‘darkvault’, and ‘clop’, show moderate activity levels. Entities like ‘bianlian’, ‘apt73/bashe’, and ‘raworld’ have low frequencies, indicating limited activity. Groups such as ‘aps’ and ‘akira’ have the lowest representation, indicating minimal activity. The chart highlights a clear disparity in activity levels among these threats, emphasizing the need for targeted cybersecurity strategies.

Top Impacted Sectors in India:

The pie chart illustrates the distribution of incidents across various sectors, highlighting that the industrial sector is the most frequently targeted, accounting for 75% of the total incidents. This is followed by the healthcare sector, which represents 12% of the incidents, making it the second most affected. The finance sector accounts for 10% of the incidents, reflecting a moderate level of targeting. In contrast, the government sector experiences the least impact, with only 3% of the incidents, indicating minimal targeting compared to the other sectors. This distribution underscores the critical need for enhanced cybersecurity measures, particularly in the industrial sector, while also addressing vulnerabilities in healthcare, finance, and government domains.

Month Wise Incident Trends in India:

The chart indicates a fluctuating trend with notable peaks in May and October, suggesting potential periods of heightened activity or incidents during these months. The data starts at 5 in January and drops to its lowest point, 2, in February. It then gradually increases to 6 in March and April, followed by a sharp rise to 14 in May. After peaking in May, the metric significantly declines to 4 in June but starts to rise again, reaching 7 in July and 8 in August. September sees a slight dip to 5 before the metric spikes dramatically to its highest value, 24, in October. Following this peak, the count decreases to 10 in November and then drops further to 7 in December.

CyberPeace Advisory:

1. Implement Data Backup and Recovery Plans: Backups are your safety net. Regularly saving copies of your important data ensures you can bounce back quickly if ransomware strikes. Make sure these backups are stored securely—either offline or in a trusted cloud service—to avoid losing valuable information or facing extended downtime.  
2. Enhance Employee Awareness and Training: People often unintentionally open the door to ransomware. By training your team to spot phishing emails, social engineering tricks, and other scams, you empower them to be your first line of defense against attacks.  
3. Adopt Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Think of MFA as locking your door and adding a deadbolt. Even if attackers get hold of your password, they’ll still need that second layer of verification to break in. It’s an easy and powerful way to block unauthorized access.  
4. Utilize Advanced Threat Detection Tools: Smart tools can make a world of difference. AI-powered systems and behavior-based monitoring can catch ransomware activity early, giving you a chance to stop it in its tracks before it causes real damage.  
5. Conduct Regular Vulnerability Assessments: You can’t fix what you don’t know is broken. Regularly checking for vulnerabilities in your systems helps you identify weak spots. By addressing these issues proactively, you can stay one step ahead of attackers.

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Conclusion:

The 2024 ransomware landscape reveals the critical need for proactive cybersecurity strategies. High-value sectors and technologically advanced regions remain the primary targets, emphasizing the importance of robust defenses. As we move into 2025, it is crucial to anticipate the evolution of ransomware tactics and adopt forward-looking measures to address emerging threats. 

Global collaboration, continuous innovation in cybersecurity technologies, and adaptive strategies will be imperative to counteract the persistent and evolving threats posed by ransomware activities. Organizations and governments must prioritize preparedness and resilience, ensuring that lessons learned in 2024 are applied to strengthen defenses and minimize vulnerabilities in the year ahead.

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In the 21^st century, wars are no longer confined to land, sea, and air. Rather, they are increasingly playing out across the digital domain, where effective dominance over networks, data, and communications determines who holds the upper hand. Among these, 5G networks are becoming a defining factor on modern battlefields. The ultra-low latency, massive bandwidth capability, and the ability to connect many devices at a single time are transforming the scale and level of military operations, intelligence, and logistics.  This unprecedented connectivity is also met with a host of cybersecurity vulnerabilities that the governments and the militaries have to address. 

As India faces a challenging security environment, the emergence of 5G presents both an opportunity and a dilemma. On one hand, it can enhance our command, control, surveillance and battlefield coordination. On the other hand, it also exposes the military and the security establishments to risks of espionage and supply chain vulnerabilities. So in this case, it will be important to strike a balance between innovation and security for turning 5G into a strength rather than a liability.   

How can 5G networks be a military asset? 

In comparison to its predecessors, 5G is not just about faster downloads. Rather, it is a complete overhaul of network architectures that are designed to support services and technologies according to modern technological requirements. In terms of military application of 5G networks, it can prove a series of game-changing capabilities, such as:-  

• Enhanced Command and Control in the form of real-time data sharing between troops, UAVs, Radar systems and the Command Cells to ensure a faster and coordinated decision-making approach. 
• Tactical Situational Awareness with the help of 5G-enabled devices can give soldiers instant updates on the terrain, troop movements, or positions and enemy movements. 
• Advanced Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) with high-resolution sensors, radars and UAVs that can operate at their full potential by transmitting vast data streams with minimal legacy. 

However, 5G networks can also help to become a key component of the communication component of the military command establishments that would allow machines, sensors and human operators to function as a single and integrated force.    

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Understanding the importance of 5G networks as the Double-Edged Swords of Connectivity- 

The potential of 5G is undeniable, but its vulnerabilities cannot be ignored.  Because they are software-driven and reliant on dense networks of small cells. For the military, this shows that adversaries could exploit their weaknesses to disrupt the communication, jam signals, and intercept sensitive data, leaving behind some key risks, such as; 

• Cybersecurity threats from software-based architectures make 5G networks prone to malware and data breaches.
• Supply chain risks can arise from reliance on foreign hardware and software components with raising fears of embedded backdoors or compromised systems.
• Signal jamming and interface in terms of millimetre-wave spectrum, 5G signals are vulnerable to disruption in contested environments. 
• There can also be insider threats and physical sabotage over personnel or unsecured installations that could compromise network integrity. 

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Securing the Backbone: Cyber Defence Imperatives 

To safeguard 5G networks as the backbone for future warfare, the defence establishments need to adopt a layered, proactive cybersecurity strategy. Several measures can be considered, such as; 

• Ensuring robust encryption and authentication to protect sensitive data, which requires the installation of advanced protocols like Subscription Concealed Identifiers and zero-trust frameworks to eliminate implicit trust.  
• Investing in domestic R&D for 5G components to reduce dependency on foreign suppliers. India’s adoption of the 5Gi standard is a step in this direction, but upgrading it into a military grade remains vital. 
• To ensure collaboration across different sectors, the defence forces need to work with civilian agencies and private telecoms support providers to create unified standards and best practices.  

Thus, with embedding cybersecurity into every layer of the 5G architecture, India can work in the direction to reduce risks to maintain its operational resilience. 

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The geopolitical domains of 5G Network as a tool of warfare- 

The introduction of 5G networks has definitely come as a tool of technological advancement in the communication sector. But at the same time, it has also posed a geopolitical context as well. The strategic competition between the US and China to dominate the 5G infrastructure has global security implications.  For India, aligning closely with either of the blocs will pose a risk to its strategic autonomy, but pursuing non-alignment can give India some leverage to develop its capability on its own. 

In this case, partnerships with the QUAD with the US, Japan and Australia can open avenues for cooperating on shared standards, cost sharing, and interoperability in 5G-enabled military systems. Learning from countries like the US and Israel, which are developing their defence communication and network infrastructure to secure 5G networks, or revisiting existing frameworks like COMCASA or BECA with the US can serve as platforms to explore joint protocols for 5G networks. 

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Conclusion: Opportunities and the way forward- 

The 5G network is becoming a part of the central nervous system of the future battlefields. It can offer immense opportunities for India to modernise its defence capabilities and enhance the situational awareness by integrating AI-driven systems. The future lies in adopting a balanced strategy by developing indigenous capabilities, forging trusted partnerships, embedding cybersecurity into every layer of the networking architecture and preparing a skilled workforce to analyse and counter evolving threats. However, by adopting a foresighted preparedness, India can turn the double-edged sword of 5G into a decisive advantage by ensuring that it not only adapts to the digital battlefield, rather India can also lead it. 

References

• https://chanakyaforum.com/5g-poised-to-usher-in-a-paradigm-shift-in-military-communications
• https://www.ijert.org/secure-5g-network-architecture-for-armed-forces
• https://www.airforce-technology.com/sponsored/data-is-becoming-more-powerful-than-any-weaponry-on-the-battlefield-and-5g-is-the-backbone/
• https://www.upguard.com/blog/how-5g-technology-affects-cybersecurity‍
• https://agileblue.com/exploring-the-impact-of-5g-technology-on-cybersecurity-practices/