ECONOMY PRACTICE BITS - CHIRANJEEVI SIR GROUP II

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APPSC GROUP III FINAL KEY OF SCREENING TEST HELD ON 24-04-2017

APPSC GROUP I FINAL KEY OF SCREENING TEST HELD ON 07-05-2017

WANNACRY : RECENT CASE OF MALWARE ATTACK

       In 2017 May, there was a massive global ransomware attack. The attack infected more than 230,000 computers in 150 countries including India, demanding ransom payments in bitcoin in 28 languages.

What is WannaCry?

• WannaCry is Encrypting Ransomware or Crypto Locker type of ransomware that is programmed to attack Microsoft Windows software..
• Shadow Brokers: People (Hackers) behind these attacks call themselves by this term.

 

Severely affected:

• Britain’s National Health Service (NHS),
• Spain’s Telefónica,
• FedEx (USA)
• Deutsche Bahn
• Several plants of carmakers Renault and Nissan had stopped production in France and England due to the malware,
• The Russian Interior Ministry had reported about 1,000 computers.
• Many Areas in India

What is the Origin of Wannacry attack?

• It is said by Wikileaks that National Security Agency (NSA) of USA had these methods to have monitored over subjects.
• This loophole was recently leaked by WikiLeaks.
• The same vulnerability of Windows Operating system was used by ransomware.
• However, Microsoft had released the security patches for the same earlier.

What does it do the computer?

• Some variants of ransomware encrypt data in such a way that it is impossible to decrypt unless the user has an encryption key. These are called ‘Encrypting Ransomware’ that incorporate advanced encryption methods.
• Another type of ransomware that is frequently circulated is ‘Locker ransomware, which locks the victim out of the operating system, making it impossible to access the desktop and any apps or files. CryptoLocker, like WannaCry, is a malware when injected into a host system, scans the hard drive of the victim and targets specific file extensions and encrypts them.

How does it spread?

• Wannacry encrypts the files on an infected computer.
• It spreads by using a vulnerability in implementations of Server Message Block (SMB) of Windows systems. This exploit is known as ETERNALBLUE.
• It encrypts hard disk/drive and then spread laterally between computers on the same LAN.
• It also spreads through the malicious Email-attachment.

How to remain protected from ransomware?

 

• Regular Data Backup: This helps restore the last saved data and minimise data loss. Ransomware also attacks servers; hence it is important to have a backup on a disconnected hard drive or external device on the pre-defined regular basis.
• Prevention: To prevent infiltration of malware, having password protected tools to identify and filter certain file extensions like “.exe” or “. Zip”, are essential. Emails that appear suspicious should also be filtered at the exchange level. There are also some tools that detect the entry of such malware with features of zero days’ protection which work on threat emulation and threat extraction techniques. Users and businesses also need to ensure that hidden file extension is displayed since it becomes easier to filter them.
• User awareness: Awareness among users needs to be created to avoid opening the unsolicited attachment. Malware is typically designed to mimic identities of people that users interact with on a regular basis either on a personal or professional level.
• Rules in IPS: It’s necessary to create rules in the Intrusion Prevention Software (IPS) to discard or disallow the opening of files with extension “.exe” from local App data folders or AppData.
• Regular patch and upgrades: To prevent leaks or vulnerabilities in software, ensure to regularly update the software versions and apply patches released by the vendor. These patches and version are often released to wrestle with known or newly discovered exploits and can prevent known signatures of these malware, Trojans or ransomware to enter the system.
• Install and run anti-malware and firewall software. When selecting software, choose a program that offers tools for detecting, quarantining, and removing multiple types of malware.
• The combination of anti-malware software and a firewall will ensure that all incoming and existing data gets scanned for malware and that malware can be safely removed once detected.
• Keep software and operating systems up to date with current vulnerability patches. These patches are often released to patch bugs or other security flaws that could be exploited by attackers.
• Be vigilant when downloading files, programs, attachments, etc. Downloads that seem strange or are from an unfamiliar source often contain malware.

Some Initiatives by Government of India:

• National Cyber Security Policy 2013: Indian Government already have a National Cyber Security Policy in place. The National Cyber Security Policy document outlines a roadmap to create a framework for comprehensive, collaborative and collective response to deal with the issue of cyber security at all levels within the country.
• Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) has been designated to act as a nodal agency for coordination of crisis management efforts. CERT-In will also act as an umbrella organisation for coordination actions and operationalization of sectoral CERTs. CERT-in will also issue early warnings.
• Cyber Swachhta Kendra: The “Cyber Swachhta Kendra” is a Botnet Cleaning and Malware Analysis Centre (BCMAC), operated by the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) as part of the Government of India’s Digital India initiative under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). Its goal is to create a secure cyberspace by detecting botnet infections in India and to notify, enable cleaning and securing systems of end users so as to prevent further infections.

DHOLA - SADIYA BRIDGE : COUNTRY'S LONGEST RIVER BRIDGE

         Bringing Assam and Arunachal Pradesh closer, the country's longest river bridge - the Dhola-Sadiya - constructed over the mighty Brahmaputra, is inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 26, 2017.

1. The new, three lane, 9.15 kilometre Dhola-Sadiya bridge  has been built over river Lohit, a tributary of the Brahmaputra, and links Dhola in Assam to Sadiya in Arunachal Pradesh.
2. Earlier, the only means to cross the Brahmaputra at this location was by ferry in the daytime, and even this was not possible during floods. The Dhola- Sadiya bridge will ensure 24X7 connectivity between upper Assam and the eastern part of Arunachal Pradesh.
3. The bridge will also reduce the distance from Rupai on NH-37 in Assam to Meka/Roing on NH-52 in Arunachal Pradesh by 165km, cutting down on travel time from the current six hours to just one hour.
4. This, the government claims, will result in saving of petrol and diesel worth Rs 10 lakh per day.
5. Given the fact that the North East is prone to high seismic activity, the bridge has been provided seismic buffers in all its 182 piers.
6. The total length of the Dhola-Sadiya bridge project, including the approach roads on each side, is 28.50km. The length of the bridge itself is 9.15km.
7. Constructed at a total cost of Rs 2,056 crore, the bridge is part of the Arunachal Package of Roads and Highways under the Ministry's Special Accelerated Road Develoopment Programme for North East.
8. The Dhola-Sadiya bridge promises to provide efficient road connectivity to remote and backward areas which have poor road infrastructure, which will give a major boost to overall economic development of the areas north of the Brahmaputra in upper Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
9. The bridge will also benefit the army, with convoys requiring less time to journey from Assam to the posts along the India-China border in Arunachal Pradesh. The bridge is also expected to enhance India's defence capabilities in the northeastern region.
10. The government said it will also facilitate numerous hydro power projects coming up in the state, as it is the most sought-after route for various power project developers.

AP REORGANISATION ACT 2014

EVOLUTION OF INDIAN NATIONAL FLAG

        Ever Indian respects the national flag. But not many Indians can claim to know how the tricolor evolved over decades.

         The present flag underwent at least six radical changes from colours to symbols of authority on it between 1906 and 1947 when it was finally adopted by the onstituent Assembly as the National Flag. Jawaharlal Nehru introduced the resolution to that effect. The first flag in India is believed to have been hoisted on August 7, 1906, in the Parsee Bagan Square (Green Park) in Kolkata. The flag had horizontal stripes of red, yellow and green.

         The second flag to have been hoisted was by Madame Cama and her band of exiled revolutionaries in Paris in 1907. Some say that it was in 1905, though. This was very similar to the first flag and it was exhibited at a socialist conference in Berlin. Dr Annie Besant and Lokmanya Tilak hoisted the third flag in 1917 during the Home Rule movement. The Union Jack symbolized the ideal of Dominion Status.

      At a meeting of the All-India Congress Committee at Bezwada, now Vijayawada, in Andhra Pradesh in 1921,  Pingali Venkayya, a young man from Machilipatnam in Krishna Mandal, prepared a flag and took it to Gandhiji. It was red and green, representing the two major communities in India. Gandhiji suggested that a white strip to represent the remaining communities in the country and a ‘charkha’ be added. Thus was the tricolor born and it was hoisted.

       A committee of seven persons was appointed in 1931 to elicit opinion on the choice of a flag. It proposed a plain saffron flag with a ‘charkha’ in reddish brown. The All-India Congress Committee rejected the proposal. The same year a resolution was passed at the Karachi session of the All-India Congress Committee adopting a tricolor as the national emblem. It had three colors: saffron, white and green. No religious significance was, however, attached to the colors. They represented saffron for courage and sacrifice, white for truth and peace, and green for faith and chivalry. On July 22, 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru presented the national flag to the Constituent Assembly.

       This was the tricolour, but the “charkha” was substituted with the “Dharma Chakra” of Asoka, the wheel of the Law of Dharma. Dr Radhakrishnan said on the occasion: “Truth or satya, dharma or virtue, ought to be the controlling principles of all those who work under this flag. Again, the wheel denotes motion. There is death in stagnation. There is life in movement. India should no more resist change; it must move and go forward. The wheel represents the dynamism of a peaceful change…” On the same occasion, Jawaharlal Nehru moved the following resolution in the Constituent Assembly: ‘Resolved that the National Flag of India shall be horizontal tricolor of deep saffron (kesri), white and dark green in equal proportions. In the centre of the white band, there shall be a wheel in navy blue to represent the “charkha.” The design of the wheel shall be that of the wheel (charkha) which appears on the abacus of the Sarnath Lion Capital of Asoka.