The federal government has elevated a nationwide alert and stepped up monitoring as intelligence businesses put together for intensified cybersecurity assaults from China.

Cybersecurity specialists mentioned India’s ban on 59 Chinese language apps was solely the beginning and there will probably be larger scrutiny of corporations, machine makers, and apps with publicity to China, which may set off retaliatory assaults.

A senior government official said that among all the sectors, power, telecom, and financial services are being monitored even more closely, given their exposure to Chinese infrastructure.

“Since we have permitted the Chinese for so many years to invest in critical infrastructure, especially in communications and power, the Chinese have keys to those networks in the country and through that, they have influence over our financial sector as well,” the official said. “They could potentially initiate problems in any of these networks through remote locations.”

Cybersecurity specialists mentioned the federal government will develop monitoring and concentrate on corporations which might be funded by Chinese language buyers, though the diploma of surveillance could range.

“In today’s economic climate, no one can afford physical wars… war is waged in the form of cyber, trade, and potentially supply chain conflicts. Now the companies that have funding from Chinese investors will be under scrutiny, especially tech platforms,” said Siddharth Vishwanath, leader, cybersecurity, at PwC India. “Banning Chinese apps is possibly a pre-emptive step to what could be large-scale surveillance.”

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On Monday, the Indian government banned 59 Chinese apps, including the popular TikTok, citing threats to national security. Prior to that, it had warned of increased cybersecurity threats. The government also cited complaints about data on Indian users being transferred abroad without authorization.