IFSO Steps into CBSE Portal Hacking Case: Know Its Capabilities
The Delhi Police's IFSO unit will investigate the cyber-attack on the CBSE portal. Here is what IFSO is, how it operates, and what might happen next in this case.
The matter regarding recent cyber-attacks on CBSE's post-result services portal has reached the Delhi Police's IFSO unit. The Board has alleged that the portal was repeatedly targeted over the past few days, but security measures prevented any of the attacks from succeeding. While student data remains secure, the responsibility of identifying the perpetrators and their motives has now been handed over to the IFSO unit.
CBSE had launched the post-result services portal for students following the declaration of the Class 12 board exam results. Through this portal, students can apply for services such as marks verification, obtaining copies of answer sheets, and re-evaluation. According to the Board, attempts to launch cyber-attacks on the portal began shortly after its launch. CBSE claimed that its security systems successfully blocked millions of suspicious requests and thousands of unauthorized access attempts in a timely manner. Despite this, the portal continued to function normally, and student services remained unaffected.
What exactly is the IFSO unit?
IFSO stands for Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations. It is a specialized cyber investigation unit operating under the Delhi Police's Special Cell. The unit was established to investigate cases that are technically complex or have the potential to impact a large number of people. The landscape of cybercrime is evolving rapidly, creating a need for expert technical teams alongside standard police investigations. IFSO is known for handling such cases.
What kind of cases does IFSO investigate?
IFSO's scope is not limited to website hacking alone. This unit also investigates cases involving data theft, online fraud, banking fraud, social media-related crimes, ransomware attacks, fake investment schemes, and large-scale cyber networks. Cases are referred to the IFSO when a cybercrime is extensive in scope or suspected to involve an organized gang. This is why the CBSE has sought assistance from this unit to investigate alleged cyberattacks on its portal.
The CBSE's post-result portal is linked to lakhs of students, housing their personal information, examination records, and other critical documents. Consequently, any cyberattack here is not merely a technical issue but a significant matter of data security. Although the CBSE has clarified that no student data has been leaked and the system remains fully secure, the board has taken the matter seriously and lodged a police complaint to uncover the truth behind the attacks.
