According to the cyber security wing of the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), infrastructure, health, telecom, and other strategic sectors were the prime targets of cyberattacks during the COVID 19 pandemic. They revealed that cyber threat actors exploited the increased online mode of functioning when the pandemic peaked.

Lt General Rajesh Pant (Retd), India′s top cyber security coordinator with the National Security Council Secretariat stated that the number of cyber incidents increased during the pandemic and the health sector was also targeted, being the key focus area for vaccine development. He added that the other key sectors targeted by cyber criminals were transportation, energy, telecom, and finance. According to governmental data, 6,74,021 cyberattacks were reported till June 2022, while the number of cyber incidences in 2020-21 reached 14 lakhs.

Lt General Pant stated that the exponential growth in cyber incidents in India and the world during the pandemic, increased the reliance of private and governmental sectors on digital platforms to facilitate smooth administration and work-from-home mode. He further added that cyber-attack takes place at all times, i.e., during military operations and peace times. Hence, it is necessary to protect India′s national cyberspace, including cyberspace of other critical sectors, such as health, finance, strategy, transport, etc.