China targeted Indian Satellite communications in 2017: Report

At a time when tension between New Delhi and Beijing is rising over military standoff in Ladakh, a report has highlighted that China may not be just a border threat for India. US-based China Aerospace Studies Institute, quoted in a Times of India news report, suggested that China carried out multiple cyber-attacks against India between 2007 and 2018, including a cyber-attack against Indian satellite communications in 2017. The 142-page report also noted that between 2012 and 2018, China carried out multiple cyber-attacks against India, but focuses on one specific case. The report gives a sense that while India has a limited number of counter-space capabilities, China has the ability to mount sophisticated cyber-attacks directed at ground stations by either corrupting or hijacking the systems used to control spacecraft or satellite. Quoting a senior scientist, the TOI report said: “Cyber threats are a given but it cannot be ascertained who are behind such attacks.” “We've systems in place to alert us and I don't think we've ever been compromised.” The scientist added that "the Chinese may have tried and failed.” Isro chief K Sivan denied the possibility of any such attack on Indian ground stations.