Power Companies’ Websites in AP, Telangana Hacked

Hyderabad: The government-owned power distribution companies’ websites in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have been hacked on Tuesday evening. As a result, consumers in both states are facing problems in paying their power bills online.

International online hackers penetrated the Telangana State Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (TSSPDCL), Telangana State Northern Power Distribution Company Limited (TSNPDCL), Andhra Pradesh Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (APSPSCL) and the Eastern Power Distribution Company of Andhra Pradesh Ltd (APEPDCL) websites on Tuesday evening. The issue, however, came to light only on Wednesday.

Data from power grid servers were stolen using the malicious Ransomware virus. In an email sent to the Discom officials in both states, the cyber criminals asked for a Rs 5 Crore ransom in exchange for the stolen data. Since there was a data backup the security threat and compromise of data were avoided.

IT consulting company, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) was handling the website operations of the four Discom websites with their central office located in Tirupati. TCS was handling the website and server operations for the power companies before the bifurcation. Mails were sent to the employees who unknowingly downloaded the virus, which attacked the main servers. The virus deleted the entire data and crashed the site making it impossible to open the website. For almost two days, consumers could not pay their power bill because of the attack.

Officials are saying that apart from the four Discoms, the hackers also attacked the Indian Airlines website and Andhra Bank portal. However, there has been no official confirmation from either of the organisations about this hacking.

The cyber hacking was confirmed by the CMD of TSSPDCL G RaghumaReddy. He said that the TCS and the Discom ITofficials were working together to restore the data and website. TSNPDCL CMD A Gopal Rao said that some of the features have already been restored and the website will be up and running soon.

Hyderabad CCS Additional DCP Raghuvver said that they filed a case under Section 65 if the IT Act and began their investigation.