October 04, 2024 – In Dehradun, Uttarakhand, the state’s IT infrastructure was hit hard by a sudden cyberattack, taking over 186 key government websites offline. This included crucial services like the Chief Minister’s Helpline and Apuni Sarkar, which offers numerous online services to citizens. The cyberattack effectively brought government operations to a standstill, disrupting work in various offices, including the secretariat, and causing significant chaos across departments.
The attack was extensive, affecting secure internet services such as the Uttarakhand State Wide Area Network (UK SWAN) and compromising the critical State Data Center. As government websites shut down one after another, panic spread among both citizens and officials.
Nikita Khandelwal, Director of the Information and Technology Development Agency (ITDA), confirmed that the government is scanning the affected websites to ensure their security. While she assured that data remains secure, the details of the attack are still under investigation.
By late evening, experts managed to temporarily restore UK SWAN, but the stability was short-lived. Citizens seeking access to essential services via Apuni Sarkar faced ongoing frustrations, with the platform down for more than 72 hours. This incident has underscored the urgent need for a robust cybersecurity framework in the state.
Sources: Aajtak Business today Abp news HackWithEthics
