India Ranked Second for Cyberattacks in 2024

In 2024, India became the second most targeted nation globally for cyberattacks, with 95 entities falling victim to data theft, according to CloudSEK’s ThreatLandscape Report 2024. The United States topped the list with 140 attacks, while Israel ranked third with 57 attacks.

Key Findings from the Report

Sector-Specific Impact: The finance and banking sectors were the most affected, with 20 victims. Other impacted sectors included government (13 victims), telecommunications (12), healthcare and pharma (10), and education (9).

Major Data Breaches: Significant breaches included the leak of 850 million records of Indian citizen data from Hi-Tek Group, customer data from Star Health and Allied Insurance, and 2TB of data from Telecommunications Consultants India.

Ransomware Incidents: The report identified 108 ransomware incidents in India, with Lockbit being the most active group, responsible for over 20 incidents. Other notable groups included Killsec and Ransomhub.

Historical Context

India has faced significant cyber threats in the past. In 2018, it ranked second globally for data breaches, with over 690 million internet subscribers and a growing number of breaches in both private and public sectors.

Implications

The surge in cyberattacks underscores the critical need for robust cybersecurity measures across all sectors in India. The rapid digitization of services has exposed vulnerabilities, making it imperative to enhance security protocols to protect sensitive data and maintain public trust.

Summary of the news

Why in News	Key Points
India as 2nd Most Targeted Nation for Cyberattacks (2024)	– India ranked second globally for cyberattacks after the United States. – 95 entities in India were affected by cyberattacks. – Banking and Finance sector was the most targeted, with 20 victims. – Top attack groups: Lockbit, Killsec, and Ransomhub. – Significant Data Breaches: Over 850 million records from Hi-Tek Group, and large-scale data leaks from Star Health & Telecom Consultants India. – Ransomware incidents: 108 incidents, with Lockbit responsible for over 20.
Past Cybersecurity Context	– India has been a target for cyber threats for years, ranking second globally for data breaches in 2018. – The country’s growing digital infrastructure has made it more vulnerable to cyberattacks.
Other Countries in Focus	– The United States had the most targeted entities globally. – Israel ranked third in the report.