Anonymous India attacks Trai website again

The attack comes in the backdrop of the regulatory authority uploading about one million comments on net neutrality

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai)’s website was attacked again on Tuesday by hacking group Anonymous India.

The website was attacked on Monday but services were restored by evening. However, on Tuesday, the website was again attacked, making it inaccessible for many hours.

When asked if the Trai has been attacked, Anonymous India replied to a Business Standard journalist: “They deserve it right? (sic).”

The attack comes in the backdrop of the regulatory authority uploading about one million comments on net neutrality, along with the senders’ names and email IDs, that it had received on Monday. The hacking group demanded the removal of these private email ids from the website.

An ethical hacker who did not wish to be identified said: “This is a big business opportunity for hackers. People can potentially make lakhs of rupess by selling this database.” The person added that, by now, damage must have already been done.

The last day for submitting comments on Trai’s consultation process on regulating over the top services was on Friday. The comments were uploaded on the site on Monday.

The telecom regulator drew the ire of people for breaching their privacy.

In their submissions, telecom players have proposed a licensing regime for OTT players such as WhatsApp and Skype, a view opposed by internet firms and associations.

According to the Internet & Mobile Association of India, innovations of VoIP and text apps have not affected the telecom players’ financial stability. “Indicators of revenues from regulatory filings, earning calls of telecom companies and public statements clearly indicate that data is driving telecom growth,” it said.

The authority has asked for counter comments on the responses received so far, the deadline of which is May 8.