A TV Channel in Bangalore ( TV9 ) reported today that mobile calls were being received from Paksitan to mobile users in Delhi, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Mumbai etc allegedly from either terrorists or terror funding organizations. The channel gave out four distinct numbers with the ISD code 092 and stated that some of the calls were offering some financial schemes requiring payment of rs 9999/-.

While terrorists operating from Paksitan is no surprise for Indians, we need to now look at how Cyber Security agencies should respond to the possibility of Indian mobile users being indvidually targetted by Paksitani terrorists

This could  indicate that the MSPs (Mobile Service Providers) have compromised on the confidentiality of their number directory although the tragettng could have been random.

In this connection, the following action plan is suggested>

1> MSPs of the recipient’s network should now move in and  block the reported Paksitani mobile numbers

2> MSPs should  lodge a complaint on behalf of the consumers with the Cyber Crime Police

3>CERT-In should take up the issue with CBI and Interpol to lodge complaints on the users of the mobile numbers indicated by the TV channel  and on the Mobile Service companies in Pakistan

4> RBI should immediately review its Mobile Banking policies so that no Mobile Banking Solution without the use of Digital Signatures should be permitted.

5>Cyber Crime Police Station in Bangalore should take suo-motu action  to investigate further in this matter using the TV9 channel information as the base.

6>Adjudicator in Bangalore should take Suo-motu action to start an enquiry, under the powers available under Section 46 of ITA 2000 issue notices on the Paksitani mobile service providers, award compensation and take action for recovery through whatever means it takes.

These actions are required to indicate to Paksitan or any other foreign countries which harbour terrorists who target Indians.

Naavi