Massive crackdown launched by Indian Army on Personnel violating its Cyber Security norms
By Prempal Singh
The Army is carrying out a month-long cyber security exercise to identify and crack down on those violating its norms for all online activities.
A communication sent out by the Army headquarters to all its units and formations last week said those found violating the norms would face “exemplary” punishment.
A set of dos and don’ts, in line with the Army’s cyber security policy, has been attached with the communication. This includes asking the troops to limit their online presence, such as on Facebook and large Whats App groups, and not forwarding or storing sensitive data on their electronic devices.
According to highly-placed Army sources, the exercise began last week and will continue until mid-August.
The communication comes just about a week after Army headquarters had issued a directive on information security, where it warned its personnel about the leak of sensitive information about the armed forces and the increasing use of personal devices, especially smartphones, and messaging apps like WhatsApp to exchange official information.
Sensitization & Stringent checks
The exercise will first involve sensitizing the troops across the country about ways to ensure cyber security within the Army and the use of social media platforms by personnel, which will then be followed by surprise checks to punish those violating the norms.
While the Army declined to comment on the move, a senior officer said such checks are carried out periodically to ensure the troops comply with the rules laid down for cyber security.
The officer said the Indian Army is ensuring stringent checks so that no person falls prey to “inimical agencies and their devious designs”.
The Instructions
The instructions given out as part of the exercise reiterate the basic rules of online behavior that should be exercised by the armed forces.
The Army wants sensitive data not to be stored or forwarded through electronic devices, and also wants troops to be sensitized on the ways adopted by enemy operatives, as well as other cyber security matters.
It wants personnel not to accept friend requests from unknown entities, or chats with unknown people on social media. It also says only known people should be added to social media groups, and troops should ensure they are not giving out any sensitive information while posting pictures on social media.
In addition, the Army has asked personnel to keep their identities secret — not post pictures of themselves in uniform or identify themselves with their ranks, avoid being part of large Whats-App groups, avoid opening unknown email links and suspicious websites, or commenting and criticizing the government on topics which can have a “subversive effect”.