China targeted Indian Satellite communications in 2017: Report
The 142-page report also noted that between 2012 and 2018, China carried out multiple cyber-attacks against India, but focuses on one specific case.
At a time when tension between New Delhi and Beijing is rising over military standoff in Ladakh, a report has highlighted that China may not be just a border threat for India.
US-based China Aerospace Studies Institute (CASI), quoted in a Times of India news report, suggested that China carried out multiple cyber-attacks against India between 2007 and 2018, including a cyber-attack against Indian satellite communications in 2017.
The 142-page report also noted that between 2012 and 2018, China carried out multiple cyber-attacks against India, but focuses on one specific case.
Also Read | Chinese hackers attacked secured Indian govt networks, Tibetan monk’s phone: US court documents
According to the report quoted in TOI, a Chinese network-based computer attack on Jet Propulsion Laboratory “allowed full functional control” over JPL Networks. Multiple sources were quoted in the CASI report to list out some of the attacks.
The report went on to add that India had also demonstrated Anti-Satellite (A-SAT) missile technology on March 27, 2019, as part of its counter-space capabilities. This equipped India with a “kinetic kill” option to destroy enemy satellites.
However, the CASI report highlighted how China has multiple other counter-space technologies, intended to threaten adversary space systems from ground to geosynchronous orbit (GEO). Some of China’s counter-space capabilities include direct-ascent kinetic-kill vehicles (anti-satellite missiles), co-orbital satellites, directed-energy weapons, jammers and cyber capabilities.
The report gives a sense that while India has a limited number of counter-space capabilities, China has the ability to mount sophisticated cyber-attacks directed at ground stations by either corrupting or hijacking the systems used to control spacecraft or satellite.
The TOI report quoted multiple insiders who said Isro has not been able to determine the sources of cyber-attacks over the years. Quoting a senior scientist, the TOI report said: “Cyber threats are a given but it cannot be ascertained who are behind such attacks.”
“We've systems in place to alert us and I don't think we've ever been compromised.” The scientist added that "the Chinese may have tried and failed.”
Isro chief K Sivan denied the possibility of any such attack on Indian ground stations. While he agrees that there is constant threat of such attacks occurring, he said it is not unique to India. He also said India’s space communication networks are secure.
Also Read | Chinese hackers attempted 40,000 cyber attacks on Indian web, banking sector in 5 days