The CRPF has warned that any violation of cyber security protocols by its personnel will attract strict action. The move comes after a number of sensitive documents were found to be circulating on the social media applications, compromising security.
The recent directive regarding violation of cyber security instructions and guidelines after it was noticed by the Force that correspondences consisting of classified/sensitive information like programmes of VIPs/senior officers, operational plans/matters, vital information relating to arms/.ammunition, movement of troops/vehicles, comments of senior officers, reports on any incident and important instructions were getting viral on various messaging applications.
“Putting out any message containing sensitive official information on social media platforms is not a healthy practice and amounts to breach of Official Secrets Act and violation of various instructions on the subject, including cyber security guidelines. Hence, the Force has decided to deal with such misconduct in a stern manner,” a senior official said.
All the formations have been asked to ensure that all sensitive messages should only be communicated on a need to know basis and should not reach anyone for whom such messages are not meant, he said.
Spreading official messages on various messaging applications should be strictly avoided and violation of the instructions would entail actions as per the laid down procedures with zero tolerance.
All the formations have been instructed to avoid social media platforms for sending or receiving official messages and communication, and instead only bank on the internal communication system of the CRPF for sending such documents.
“The growing indiscipline among the rank and file with regard to use of foreign messaging platforms compromises operational secrecy and gives a lever to hostile intelligence agencies to extract sensitive information. Even the disposition statement (telephone/email directory of the organization) and deployment pattern of the Force in various operational theatres are available in PDF formats and are widely circulated amongst the personnel on messaging apps like WhatsApp,” another official said.
The official further said that despite cyber security guidelines being in place, a few operational/intelligence meetings have been conducted online via Skype VoIP-based videoconferencing application.
The open availability of mobile phones numbers and email IDs of officials have recently been exploited by Pakistan’s covert agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) that had stepped up espionage bids to seek information through spoofed calls on the Force’s deployment and strength in Jammu and Kashmir in the run up to the drone strikes on the Jammu air force station.
The footprinting of the Force’s mobility or location can easily be tracked by inimical agencies by sending messages on various messaging apps of the security personnel, officials added.
