Acting on IB's advisory, the union home ministry also issued a circular 'Prudent Smart Phone Security Norms' to paramilitary and other security organisations, warning personnel of inadvertent leaks by use of smart phone devices.
Keep a close eye on your smartphone as it could be potentially dangerous to country's security! Intelligence Bureau has warned to all the ministries and departments dealing with sensitive information.
In a communication to the Union home ministry, central armed police forces (CAPFs) and state polices, the IB has asked the officials to use personal smartphones very sparingly -- not to download extra Apps on it, get Apps that are security vetted and declared safe, not to connect smartphones with computers or laptops with Bluetooth or otherwise.
Acting on IB's advisory, the union home ministry also issued a circular 'Prudent Smart Phone Security Norms' to paramilitary and other security organisations, warning personnel of inadvertent leaks by use of smart phone devices.
The circular points out that smart phones should not be allowed during sensitive meetings and briefings as they could be virus infested and serve as carriers of some remote client.
It also asks officers to avoid use of smartphones during sensitive telephone conversation and adopt Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to respond to unverified calls, by taking details of person asking for specific or sensitive information and calling back on landline.
In a conference called specifically to discuss threats from smartphones and how to negate them, the elaborately dealt with attempts that are being made by Pakistan and China to hack into IT infrastructure and smartphones.
IB suspects that a substantial number of smartphones used by military and central armed police forces personnel could be compromised as they often download unsuspecting Apps to connect socially and entertain. Moreover, all smartphones are Made in China and could have embedded viruses.
The IB briefed the officials present on latest development in Malware attacks on computer and smart phones along with case studies and also about the vulnerability and dangers that popular social network sites pose.
Recently, union home ministry informed parliament that Pakistan's espionage agency ISI was spying upon its military and security personnel using smartphone malware that has been embedded into music and mobile gaming apps. These apps include Talking Frog, Top Gun, vdjunky, mpjunkie, etc. Many a times security personnel use these games to hone their skills.
Minister of state for home Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary stated that the Indian security forces have been sensitised about Pakistan ISI using dubious applications on smartphones.
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