New Delhi: Sam Pitroda, Chairperson of the Indian Overseas Congress, has revealed a significant cybersecurity incident involving the hacking of his personal server and devices. In an email to news agency ANI, Pitroda detailed a sophisticated attack that has compromised his laptop, smartphone, and server over recent weeks. The hackers, after gaining access, have issued explicit threats demanding a substantial ransom payment in cryptocurrency, amounting to tens of thousands of dollars.
“I want to bring to your attention a critical matter: my laptop, smartphone, and server have been repeatedly hacked and severely compromised over the past few weeks,” he mentioned in the letter.
Pitroda’s statement confirmed the hackers’ demands, clarifying that failure to pay the ransom will result in a malicious smear campaign designed to damage his reputation. The hackers intend to contact people within Pitroda’s network to disseminate false and damaging information. He explicitly warned against engaging with any suspicious emails or messages that might appear to originate from him. This is a crucial part of his response to the attack, highlighting the urgent need for vigilance amongst his contacts.
The email served as a public warning to his contacts and the general public, urging caution and heightened cybersecurity awareness. Pitroda emphasized the importance of ignoring any links or attachments contained within such communications, as they could potentially contain malware capable of infecting recipient devices. He detailed the precautions those who received the messages should take, clearly stating they should “not open them, not click on any links and not download any attachments (Just Delete it)”.
“If you receive any emails or messages that appear to be about me from any unknown email/mobile no., I urge you not to open them, not to click on any links, and not to download any attachments (JUST DELETE IT), as they may contain malware that could compromise your own devices,” he cautioned his contacts.
Pitroda is currently travelling and plans to take immediate and comprehensive action upon his return to Chicago. These actions will focus on updating and upgrading his systems to counter future attacks, addressing vulnerabilities in his current security infrastructure. He also apologized for any inconvenience or worry his situation has caused, emphasizing the severity of the attack and his own efforts to resolve this issue promptly.
“I am currently traveling but plan to take immediate action upon my return to Chicago. This will include replacing outdated hardware, upgrading software, and implementing robust new security measures to safeguard my digital presence,” he added.
“I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience or concern this situation may cause. Thank you for your understanding and vigilance,” he said further..
