Lok Sabha Question No. 2638 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-08-04
Subject: Cyber Swachhta Kendra
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Gitaben Vajesingbhai Rathva, Naranbhai Bhikhabhai Kachhadiya, Parbatbhai Savabhai Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2638

TO BE ANSWERED ON:  04.08.2021

## CYBER SWACHHTA KENDRA

## 2638. SHRIMATI RATHVA GITABEN VAJESINGBHAI:

## SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA:

## SHRI PARBATBHAI SAVABHAI PATEL:

Will the Minister of Electronics & Information Technology be pleased to state:-

- (a) the objectives of 'Cyber Swachhta Kendra',
- (b) the  manner  in  which  work  is  accomplished  by  the  Cyber  Swachhta  Kendras  for creating awareness regarding cyber attacks; and
- (c) the  steps  being  taken  for  creating  more  awareness  in  the  context  of  cyber  attacks prevalent among the internet users in the State of Gujarat?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR)

(a):    The  Cyber  Swachhta  Kendra  (CSK)  is    a  part  of    Government  of  India  (MeitY's) continuing efforts to build a trusted and safe internet for users in India. The objective of CSK is  to  detect  malware/botnet  incidents  in  India,  to  notify  &  enable  response  against  such attacks.

(b): Cyber Swachhta Kendra tracks malware / botnet attacks through collaborative measures and sends alerts to the Internet Service Providers (ISPs), specifying the IP addresses of the infected systems. ISPs then reach out to the owner(s) of infected system(s) with the help of registered IP address via email/SMS to visit website of Cyber Swachhta Kendra

(www.cyberswachhtakendra.gov.in) for remedial measures and free botnet/malware removal tools.

CSK provides free bot/malware removal tools, security tools, security tips and best practices and  information  to  users  to  secure  their  systems/devices  and  to  create  cyber  security awareness amongst them.

During  'Cyber  Swachhta  Pakhwada'  and  'National  Cyber  Security  Awareness  Month (NCSAM)' SMS and social media channels are used to share information regarding cyber security threats, challenges and security measures to create awareness among citizens.

(c):  Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MEITY) is implementing a project on'Information  Security  Education  and  Awareness  (ISEA),  which  inter-alia  includes  a component  of  creating  mass  awareness  on  Information  Security.  Under  the  awareness activity, a total of 1,282 awareness workshops on information security have been organized across  the  country  for  various  user  groups  through  direct/virtual  mode  covering  2,02,341 participants,  which  inter-alia  include  96  awareness  workshops  organized  in  the  State  of Gujarat  covering  19,696  participants. As  a  part  of  direct  workshops,  awareness  handbooks were  distributed  to  disseminate  information  and  tips  on  safe  use  of  internet.  Awareness material  in  the  form  of  handbooks  (16),  posters  (128),  short-videos  (73),  newsletters  (25), cartoon stories for children (65), etc. were published and also made available for download on the website www.isea.gov.in and www.infosecawareness.in.

In  addition,  2000  awareness  hand  books  in  Gujarati  were  distributed  as  a  part  of  these workshops  to  disseminate  information  and  tips  on  safe  use  of  internet,  phishing  attacks, financial frauds, matrimonial frauds, fake jobs offers covering general overview, techniques, tips for recognizing phishing messages and do's & don'ts.

Besides this, awareness week on 'Cyber Safety & Cyber Security' has been organized in the State of Gujarat in association with State Cyber Cell/Police Department to create awareness among  various  users.  Awareness  material  in  the  form  of  handbooks,  posters,  stickers  in Gujarati were distributed and pasted at prominent places such as ATMs, railway stations, bus stations, etc. to sensitize the masses. In addition, 9 mass awareness programs on cyber safety & cyber security have been broadcasted through Doordarshan/All India Radio.

Gujarat Technological University, Ahmedabad is regularly organizing awareness & capacity building  workshops  for  various  stakeholders,  Law  Enforcement  Agencies  (LEAs)  and Government officials as part of ISEA project.

Additionally,  Government  has  taken  the  following  measures  to  enhance  the  cyber  security awareness among internet users in the country:

- i) CERT-In issues alerts and advisories regarding latest cyber threats and counter measures on  regular  basis  to  ensure  safe  usage  of  digital  technologies.  CERT-In  has  issued  60 advisories for data security and mitigating fraudulent activities.
2. ii) Security tips have been published for users to secure their desktops, mobile/smart phones and preventing phishing attacks.
3. iii) CERT-In conducts regular training programmes for network/system administrators and Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) of Government  and critical sector organisations regarding securing the IT infrastructure and mitigating cyber attacks.

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