Beware, cyber hacks using virus to lay trap on MNCs

Gurugram: In May 2017, a computer named Ransomware was used effectively by the cyber hacks to effectively steal the data from various companies in Gurugram. Two years on, the threats of cybercriminals using various forms of viruses to corrupt and steal data from the companies has only grown. Worse, it is the multinational companies that are now being tagetted.

Though the dangers of fake call centres were already known, there have been a series of busting of fake call centres. Most of them are working as cyber hacks who are using the virus to target big corporations. Recently, the world's largest company in the form of market capitalisation, Microsoft lodged the complaint of how the financial data of its customers ere breached. There are reports that 50,000 people from 15 countries were duped using the MNC's name. The Gurugram police have joined hands with law enforcement officials from different countries to probe the case. In what can prove to be a worrying trend, the arrests made in the case include engineers and tech graduates.

In order to prevent their systems from getting bugged by the bugs and protect the vital data from being stolen, the state government is uploading anti-virus software in their system. The process of up-gradation is resulting in the non-functionality of various government systems. Being a hub of BPOs and KPOs, a lot of precautions have also started being taken by the companies to save the data. There are over 1,000 call centres that are functioning in the city at present.

While there have not been any official confirmations, the process of data being stolen from the companies is a long affair, most of which go unreported.

"Most of the information technology companies do not wish to disclose the data theft to the public agencies as there are high rate clientele being served by such companies. Any disclosure can result in major repercussions," said an official from a tech company who requested for anonymity.

On their part, most of the IT companies have started taking precautions to protect their system from getting bugged by the Ransomware virus. Besides the installation of anti-virus software, most of the officials in the IT companies do not respond to any anonymous emails.