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Several politicians, journalists say they received alerts from the tech giant that their devices were being targeted by ‘state-sponsored attackers.
State-sponsored attack
Over a dozen Opposition leaders and journalists received email alerts from U.S.-based tech giant Apple on Monday night.
Informing them that their digital devices were being targeted by “state-sponsored attackers”.
On Tuesday, the Union government said it would launch an investigation and described Opposition claims of snooping as “vague”.
Prominent Opposition leaders who posted screenshots of these alerts on social media
Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi told presspersons that people working in his office had also received alerts.
Mr. Gandhi alleged that “snooping” is carried out the moment Opposition leaders “touch” industrialist Gautam Adani.
Concerns related to National Security
Disrupt or destroy critical infrastructure. This include power grids, transportation systems, financial networks, and communication networks.
A successful attack on critical infrastructure could have a devastating impact on a country's economy and public safety.
Steal sensitive government and military data. This could include information about national security plans, military capabilities, and classified research. This information could be used by hostile actors to gain an advantage or to harm a country's interests.
Sow discord and instability. Cyber attacks can be used to spread misinformation, propaganda, and hate speech. This can undermine public trust in government institutions and exacerbate social tensions.
In addition to these specific concerns, cyber attacks also pose a general threat to national security.
They can be used to erode a country's sovereignty and undermine its ability to govern.
A foreign government could use cyber attacks to disrupt elections, install malware on government networks, or steal sensitive data.
In 2015, hackers believed to be affiliated with the Chinese government infiltrated the US Office of Personnel Management and stole the personal information of over 20 million federal employees and contractors.
In 2017, the WannaCry ransomware attack crippled hospitals, businesses, and government agencies around the world.
In 2020, Russian hackers infiltrated the SolarWinds software company and planted malware in its Orion software.
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