Using incognito mode and VPN may still not ensure total privacy, according to expert

Introduction:

The National Security Council Secretariat, in strategic partnership with the Rashtriya Raksha University, Gujarat, conducted a 12-day Bharat National Cyber Security Exercise in 2024 (from 18th November to 29th November). This exercise included landmark events such as a CISO (Chief Information Security Officers) Conclave and a Cyber Security Start-up exhibition, which were inaugurated on 27 November 2024. Other key features of the exercise include cyber defense training, live-fire simulations, and strategic decision-making simulations. The aim of the exercise was to equip senior government officials and personnel in critical sector organisations with skills to deal with cybersecurity issues. The event also consisted of speeches, panel discussions, and initiatives such as the release of the National Cyber Reference Framework (NCRF)- which provides a structured approach to cyber governance, and the launch of the National Cyber Range(NCR) 1.0., a cutting-edge facility for cyber security research training.

The Deputy National Security Advisor, Shri T.V. Ravichandran (IPS) reiterated, through his speech, the importance of the inclusion of technology in challenges with respect to cyber security and shaping India’s cyber strategy in a manner that is proactive. The CISOs of both government and private entities were encouraged to take up multidimensional efforts which included technological upkeep but also soft skills for awareness.

CyberPeace Outlook

The Bharat National Cybersecurity Exercise (Bharat NCX) 2024 underscores India’s commitment to a comprehensive and inclusive approach to strengthening its cybersecurity ecosystem. By fostering collaboration between startups, government bodies, and private organizations, the initiative facilitates dialogue among CISOs and promotes a unified strategy toward cyber resilience. Platforms like Bharat NCX encourage exploration in the Indian entrepreneurial space, enabling startups to innovate and contribute to critical domains like cybersecurity. Developments such as IIT Indore’s intelligent receivers (useful for both telecommunications and military operations) and the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited’s plans to establish a dedicated Security Operations Centre (SOC) to counter cyber threats are prime examples of technological strides fostering national cyber resilience.

Cybersecurity cannot be understood in isolation: it is an integral aspect of national security, impacting the broader digital infrastructure supporting Digital India initiatives. The exercise emphasises skills training, creating a workforce adept in cyber hygiene, incident response, and resilience-building techniques. Such efforts bolster proficiency across sectors, aligning with the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat vision. By integrating cybersecurity into workplace technologies and fostering a culture of awareness, Bharat NCX 2024 is a platform that encourages innovation and is a testament to the government’s resolve to fortify India’s digital landscape against evolving threats. 

References

1. https://ciso.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/cybercrime-fraud/bharat-cisos-conclave-cybersecurity-startup-exhibition-inaugurated-under-bharat-ncx-2024/115755679
2. https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2078093
3. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/indore/iit-indore-unveils-groundbreaking-intelligent-receivers-for-enhanced-6g-and-military-communication-security/articleshow/115265902.cms
4. https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/defence-system-to-be-set-up-to-protect-metro-rail-from-cyber-threats/article68841318.ece
5. https://rru.ac.in/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Brochure12-min.pdf

‍

Introduction

Deepfakes are artificial intelligence (AI) technology that employs deep learning to generate realistic-looking but phoney films or images. Algorithms use large volumes of data to analyse and discover patterns in order to provide compelling and realistic results. Deepfakes use this technology to modify movies or photos to make them appear as if they involve events or persons that never happened or existed.The procedure begins with gathering large volumes of visual and auditory data about the target individual, which is usually obtained from publicly accessible sources such as social media or public appearances. This data is then utilised for training a deep-learning model to resemble the target of deep fakes.

Recent Cases of Deepfakes-‍

‍
In an unusual turn of events, a man from northern China became the victim of a sophisticated deep fake technology. This incident has heightened concerns about using artificial intelligence (AI) tools to aid financial crimes, putting authorities and the general public on high alert.
During a video conversation, a scammer successfully impersonated the victim’s close friend using AI-powered face-swapping technology. The scammer duped the unwary victim into transferring 4.3 million yuan (nearly Rs 5 crore). The fraud occurred in Baotou, China.

AI ‘deep fakes’ of innocent images fuel spike in sextortion scams
Artificial intelligence-generated “deepfakes” are fuelling sextortion frauds like a dry brush in a raging wildfire. According to the FBI, the number of nationally reported sextortion instances came to 322% between February 2022 and February 2023, with a notable spike since April due to AI-doctored photographs. And as per the FBI, innocent photographs or videos posted on social media or sent in communications can be distorted into sexually explicit, AI-generated visuals that are “true-to-life” and practically hard to distinguish. According to the FBI, predators often located in other countries use doctored AI photographs against juveniles to compel money from them or their families or to obtain actual sexually graphic images.

Deepfake Applications

• Lensa AI.
• Deepfakes Web.
• Reface.
• MyHeritage.
• DeepFaceLab.
• Deep Art.
• Face Swap Live.
• FaceApp.

Deepfake examples

There are numerous high-profile Deepfake examples available. Deepfake films include one released by actor Jordan Peele, who used actual footage of Barack Obama and his own imitation of Obama to convey a warning about Deepfake videos.
A video shows Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg discussing how Facebook ‘controls the future’ with stolen user data, most notably on Instagram. The original video is from a speech he delivered on Russian election meddling; only 21 seconds of that address were used to create the new version. However, the vocal impersonation fell short of Jordan Peele’s Obama and revealed the truth.

The dark side of AI-Generated Misinformation

• Misinformation generated by AI-generated the truth, making it difficult to distinguish fact from fiction.
• People can unmask AI content by looking for discrepancies and lacking the human touch.
• AI content detection technologies can detect and neutralise disinformation, preventing it from spreading.

Safeguards against Deepfakes-

Technology is not the only way to guard against Deepfake videos. Good fundamental security methods are incredibly effective for combating Deepfake.For example, incorporating automatic checks into any mechanism for disbursing payments might have prevented numerous Deepfake and related frauds. You might also:

• Regular backups safeguard your data from ransomware and allow you to restore damaged data.
• Using different, strong passwords for different accounts ensures that just because one network or service has been compromised, it does not imply that others have been compromised as well. You do not want someone to be able to access your other accounts if they get into your Facebook account.
• To secure your home network, laptop, and smartphone against cyber dangers, use a good security package such as Kaspersky Total Security. This bundle includes anti-virus software, a VPN to prevent compromised Wi-Fi connections, and webcam security.

What is the future of Deepfake –

Deepfake is constantly growing. Deepfake films were easy to spot two years ago because of the clumsy movement and the fact that the simulated figure never looked to blink. However, the most recent generation of bogus videos has evolved and adapted.
There are currently approximately 15,000 Deepfake videos available online. Some are just for fun, while others attempt to sway your opinion. But now that it only takes a day or two to make a new Deepfake, that number could rise rapidly.

Conclusion-

The distinction between authentic and fake content will undoubtedly become more challenging to identify as technology advances. As a result, experts feel it should not be up to individuals to discover deep fakes in the wild. “The responsibility should be on the developers, toolmakers, and tech companies to create invisible watermarks and signal what the source of that image is,” they stated. Several startups are also working on approaches for detecting deep fakes.

Introduction

Taj Hotels Group is well known for its luxurious ambience and old-world grace and charm, blended with contemporary comforts and amenities for its guests or customers. But what can make all the netizens perplexed is the recent data breach incident which took place in Tata-owned Taj hotels. The hotel suffer from a data breach that compromises nearly 1.5 million customers' data which includes addresses, membership IDs, mobile numbers and other personally identifiable information, according to sources. This news was brought to light which raised concerns about the privacy and data protection of personal data of individuals. We are living in a space influenced by advanced technology and digital communication which throws a concern or challenge to secure the personal information of individuals. 

Unveiling the incident 

Tata-owned Taj Hotels group has suffered a data breach that compromise information of over 1.5 million customers, according to a news report. A bad actor or entity going by the name “Dnacookies” claimed data set contains data from the 2014-2020 period and has not been disclosed anywhere till now. Such personal data includes name, address, customer ID, mobile number and other personally identifiable information. This shows the risks or challenges of data protection and security. The incidents raise an alarm about the risks and vulnerabilities that might be faced even by the big corporate giants. The bad actor with the handle “Dnacookies” also demanded a ransom of a sum of about Rs 4.16 lakh from the Taj hotel group. In response to the incident, a spokesperson from the concerned hotel group said that we have been made aware of someone claiming possession of a limited data customer data set, which is non-sensitive in nature. Investigation is underway and relevant authorities have been notified about the incident.

‍A demand for ransom

The report from CNBC-TV18 clears that the bad actor not only purloined the data but also demanded around 4.16 lakh as a ransom for the database.  Along with this, the bad actor kept three conditions ahead. Firstly there has to be a middleman for a negotiable deal secondly the data cannot be split either the entire data has to be taken with the ransom demand or no data at all. Thirdly additional samples of data will not be provided. Further, the spokesperson of Indian Hotel Company Limited mentioned that they have been escalated with the fact that someone is claiming authority in a limited data set. The bad actor claimed that the database contains information from 2014- 2020 which has been kept confidential till now. The audacity of the bad actor went to such an extent that the sample containing one thousand rows of unique entries from the bad actor dataset was also provided by the bad actor as proof of the deed. This incident underlines the growing threat in cyberspace and the urgency for individuals, organizations or entities to priorities data security measures and maintain cyber resilience.

Personal Data on Stake

Such data is the personal information of the individuals and also constitutes the personal tastes and preferences of individuals which can be exploited. The biggest gush of winds the hotel and individuals face by such a data breach is not only the volume of data compromised but also the potential ways it can get misused and exploited against the hotel or its customers by cyber crooks. This paves the way for cybercriminals to put forward any demand knowing the sensitivity of the data. Followed by creating a dilemmatic situation for the affected entities to either accept the ransom demands or to stand against ransom. Since the risks are high, going ahead with any of these situations can have an adverse impact on the security of personal data. The organisation or entities holding the personal data need to make sure that data under their realm is well protected and secured.

While the organisation has to sail through the aftermath of this breach, such incidents also pose a challenge for the organisation to maintain the trust and reputation of the organization since these incidents question the cyber security posture of the organisation. It is suggested to be transparent with its stakeholders, and open about the vulnerabilities and steps taken against this. They should also discuss the amplified step added for safeguarding their customer's personal data. Since Taj is well known for its out-of-the-box luxury and for providing comfort to its customers it should take a step ahead to reinforce its digital infrastructure to ensure the security of data.

Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023

The newly enacted Digital Personal Data Act, 2023 put certain obligations on data fiduciaries to take reasonable measures to maintain the security of personal data. The Act also requires to inform about the data breach to the data protection board constituted under the Act. The Act aims to protect the individual's digital personal data. The Act casts certain obligations on data principals and data fiduciaries. The Act provides penalty upto 250 crores in case of a data breach. The Act aims to provide consent-based data collection techniques. The Act also establishes the Data Protection Board to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Act and address grievances. 

Conclusion

Data breach in such a big giant in the market serves as an alarming concern to be more cautious and proactively take precautionary measures to protect the security of data and compliance with data protection laws and regulations. We are living in an era where digital security is as important as the basic fundamental rights of an individual. Taj Hotels Group has actively taken steps to handle the aftermath of the data breach by informing the incident to law enforcement agencies and taking necessary steps.  It is also on our part to be more aware, and vigilant about our personal data. Entities need to ensure compliance and measures to protect personal data and overall ensure a true cyber-safe & digital environment.

References

https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/technology/taj-hotels-suffers-data-breach-exposes-information-of-1-5-million-customers-11801161.html

‍