The official ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) account of Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde fell victim to hacking on Sunday. Hackers exploited the account to disseminate images featuring the flags of Pakistan and Turkey, as confirmed by a state official.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. File Pic
As reported by the news agency PTI, the account was restored within a span of 30 to 45 minutes. The official remarked, “We promptly notified the cybercrime police. Our dedicated social media team, which oversees the Deputy CM’s ‘X’ handle, effectively regained access to the account.”
The incident escalated as the hackers live-streamed content adorned with imagery connected to the two Islamic nations, coinciding with the India vs. Pakistan Asia Cup cricket match.
This breach has provoked apprehensions regarding the state’s cybersecurity framework.
In response, Senior Congress leader Nana Patole deemed the occurrence “shocking,” posing critical questions about the state’s capability to safeguard its digital infrastructure.
“If even a senior leader’s social media account can succumb to such ease of hacking, what security can the average citizen anticipate?” he implored. Patole demanded transparency and decisive action from the state home department to avert future occurrences.
Currently, an investigation is underway by the cybercrime unit.
Patole noted that the incident has ignited fervent discussions, particularly among the Gen-Z cohort, who are questioning the reliability of online safety when even high-ranking officials’ accounts are susceptible to breaches.
The state’s home department now finds itself under scrutiny, with critics demanding accountability and clarification on the existing measures to protect citizens’ digital data, as expressed by the Congress MLA in a post on ‘X.’
Despite the government’s recent ‘Golden Data’ initiative aimed at establishing a centralized database, the hacking of a minister’s account has led to skepticism regarding the efficacy of security protocols safeguarding governmental websites and sensitive official data.
Patole insisted that the home department must provide unequivocal responses to enhance the protection of citizens against cyber threats.
CM Fadnavis Advocates for Technological Advancement in Policing
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis championed the integration of advanced technology in Maharashtra’s policing framework, emphasizing that thoughtful and courageous adoption of technology can elevate law enforcement efficacy.
This assertion was made during an annual gathering of the Indian Police Foundation (IPF) at the Maharashtra Police Headquarters in South Mumbai on Saturday.
Fadnavis underlined the necessity for an evolving organizational structure within the police force to foster agility and responsiveness to modern challenges.
“Technology resembles a steed; it is the rider who determines its direction. By harnessing technology wisely and with bravery, we can significantly advance policing standards,” he added, reinforcing the pivotal role of technology in contemporary law enforcement.
Source link: Mid-day.com.
