Maharashtra Govt Departments Face Imminent Cyber Threat: Cyber Cell Investigation Reveals Alarming Gaps

Mumbai: Several departments of the Maharashtra government are under the looming threat of a potential cyberattack, according to findings from an investigation by the Maharashtra Cyber Cell. The probe has revealed that many government websites lack adequate cybersecurity measures, making them vulnerable to attacks at any moment.

According to Maharashtra Cyber officials, the departments at risk include the Maharashtra Police, Directorate General of Information and Public Relations (DGIPR), Maharashtra State Electricity Board (MSEB), and the Maharashtra Public Service Commission (MPSC), among others. Following this revelation, Maharashtra Cyber has issued advisories to these departments, urging them to implement urgent preventive and protective measures.

ADG Yashasvi Yadav of Maharashtra Cyber confirmed the findings, expressing concern over the failure of several departments to implement basic cybersecurity protocols. "This negligence is worrisome," he said. "We have asked the departments to exercise caution and take necessary steps immediately."

The primary reason for this heightened threat, the report states, is the leakage of critical credentials on the darknet. Login details and sensitive information of various government departments are currently available on darknet platforms, which could be exploited by cybercriminals—particularly hackers from Pakistan and China, as revealed in the investigation.

Maharashtra appears to be a key target for such attacks, the Cyber Cell warns. In response, they have recommended measures such as frequent password changes, cybersecurity audits, compliance checks, forensic investigations, risk assessments, application testing, and disaster recovery planning.

This warning gains urgency in light of previous cyberattacks on state departments, including the 2017 ransomware attack on JNPT Mumbai, the 2018 ₹100 crore Cosmos Bank cyber heist, the 2020 massive breach on MSEB servers, and the 2021 ransomware attack on MIDC servers. The Maharashtra Cyber Cell continues to monitor the situation closely and is working with departments to enhance their defenses against potential cyber threats.