India has implemented several key initiatives to combat cyber scams and enhance cybersecurity measures, building upon its growing digital identity infrastructure. The newly launched Header Information Portal, managed by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), serves as a significant tool for tracking commercial and government communications, complementing the country’s recent efforts to combat spam and fraudulent communications.
The portal enables customers to identify SMS senders and helps entities detect look-alike headers registered by other parties. The development follows TRAI’s earlier implementation of an AI-powered spam detection system and the Caller Name Display (CNAP) system, showing India’s comprehensive approach to addressing unauthorized communications.
TRAI has established a systematic approach to header registration, publishing a list of registered entities’ names and SMS headers used for commercial communication and unsolicited messages. The headers follow a specific format, incorporating two alpha characters separated by a hyphen to identify originating access providers. For instance, in the header “VM-DOTMUM,” V represents Vodafone, M indicates the Mumbai service area, and DoT stands for the Department of Telecommunications Mumbai.
The government has also launched the Central Cybercrime Registry to strengthen fraud prevention and national cybersecurity. The registry serves as a centralized system for tracking cybercriminals and enhancing India’s cybersecurity infrastructure, expanding on the country’s successful digital initiatives in fraud prevention that have already saved an estimated $40 billion through various programs.
As part of related developments, the Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi has processed substantial numbers of voter registration and deletion requests. The office has received over 80,000 applications for voter name deletion and 4.8 lakh new registration requests, amid discussions about voter roll management. The effort supports India’s broader push for digital identity verification and security measures across government services.
The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has undertaken significant measures to enhance its cybersecurity protocols, particularly following a major cyberattack attributed to APT31, a Chinese state-sponsored hacker group. A subsequent review of NCSC procedures identified areas for improvement, including enhanced engagement with targeted individuals and refined briefing procedures.
The initiatives represent part of India’s comprehensive approach to cybersecurity, combining regulatory frameworks, technological solutions, and institutional mechanisms to address cyber threats and enhance digital security measures. The integration of these various systems demonstrates India’s commitment to creating a robust digital infrastructure that prioritizes security and user authentication.
Sources: The 420, The Economic Times, Security Links
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