What’s in Today’s Article?

• DDoS attack Latest News
• About Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack
• Impact of DDoS Attacks on Web Portals
• Ways to Mitigate DDoS Attacks
• DDoS Attack on Kaveri 2.0
• DDoS attack FAQs

DDoS Attack Latest News

• In January, Karnataka’s property registration portal, Kaveri 2.0, faced severe outages, disrupting citizen services. An investigation by the Revenue and E-Governance Departments revealed that the disruption was not due to technical glitches but a deliberate Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack. 
• The cyberattack on the 2023-launched portal underscores the vulnerability of critical digital infrastructure to cyber threats.

About Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Attack

• A Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack is a cyberattack designed to disrupt the normal functioning of a server, service, or network by overwhelming it with excessive internet traffic.

How It Works

• Unlike a Denial of Service (DoS) attack, which originates from a single source, a DDoS attack uses multiple compromised systems, often infected with malware, to generate traffic. 
• These systems form a botnet that floods the target with requests.

Types of DDoS Attacks

• Bandwidth Saturation: Overloading a site’s bandwidth.
• Protocol Exploitation: Exploiting vulnerabilities in network protocols.
• Application Targeting: Attacking weaknesses in specific applications or services.

Impact

• DDoS attacks can cripple online services, making them inaccessible to legitimate users and causing financial and reputational damage.

Prominent DDoS Attacks

• Attack on X Platform (August 2024)
  • Elon Musk’s X platform suffered a massive DDoS attack, causing delays and disruptions. 
  • The attack occurred just before Musk’s scheduled conversation with Donald Trump, the then Republican presidential candidate, highlighting the risks faced by high-profile platforms.
• Attack on GitHub (2015)
  • Microsoft-owned GitHub was targeted by a China-based botnet, specifically aiming at two projects that provided tools to bypass Chinese state censorship. 
  • The attack leveraged malicious JavaScript injection in visitors' browsers from Baidu’s analytics services.

Impact of DDoS Attacks on Web Portals

• Service Downtime
  • The primary goal of a DDoS attack is to overwhelm a web portal, making it inaccessible to users. 
  • This leads to disruptions in operations and potential loss of revenue.
• Distraction for Other Cyberattacks
  • While DDoS attacks do not steal data directly, they can serve as a diversion, allowing hackers to execute data breaches or other cyber threats unnoticed.
• Reputational Damage
  • Frequent DDoS attacks can harm an organization’s credibility, making customers and partners question its ability to secure digital services.

Ways to Mitigate DDoS Attacks

• Advanced Traffic Filtering
  • Organisations use traffic filtering mechanisms to differentiate between legitimate and malicious traffic, preventing overload.
• Continuous Monitoring
  • Monitoring tools help detect unusual traffic patterns early, allowing for pre-emptive actions before an attack escalates.
• Rate Limiting
  • Restricting the number of requests per user within a set time frame helps prevent the system from being overwhelmed.
• Bot Detection Technologies
  • Using CAPTCHAs and behavioural analysis helps identify and block automated bots attempting to exploit the system.
• Strong Authentication & Security Audits
  • Implementing robust authentication, including multi-factor authentication (MFA), along with regular security audits, helps prevent unauthorised access.
• Collaboration with Cybersecurity Agencies
  • Working with cybersecurity agencies enables better investigation, information sharing, and mitigation strategies to prevent future attacks.
• User Awareness & Protection
  • Educating users on phishing risks, enforcing strong passwords, and promoting security best practices can reduce the risk of account compromises.
• Incident Response Planning
  • A dedicated security team should be in place to monitor, detect, and respond to security threats effectively.

DDoS Attack on Kaveri 2.0

• The Kaveri 2.0 portal, crucial for property registrations, faced performance issues due to fake accounts making database entries, overwhelming the system. 
• The attack involved 62 email accounts from 14 IP addresses, indicating a distributed attack.

Major Attack in January 2025

• A second wave of the attack saw extremely high traffic, especially for encumbrance certificate (EC) searches, which surged to eight times the usual volume. 
• Within two hours, the portal received 6.2 lakh malicious requests, using random keywords to flood the system.

Impact

• The attack crippled the portal, causing a significant drop in property registrations, disrupting citizen services, and exposing cybersecurity vulnerabilities.

Future of Kaveri 2.0

• The Kaveri 2.0 portal, severely impacted by the cyberattack, saw significant drops in property registrations on February 1 and 4. 
  • However, it was restored on February 5.
• The attack highlights the need for government agencies and organisations to prioritise cybersecurity and implement robust mitigation strategies to prevent future disruptions.

DDoS Attack FAQs

Q1. What is a distributed denial of service attack (DDoS)?

Ans. A DDoS attack disrupts services by overwhelming a system with excessive traffic, causing downtime and disruptions.

Q2. What is a DDoS attack example?

Ans. The 2015 GitHub DDoS attack targeted censorship bypass tools, causing major disruptions through a China-based botnet.

Q3. How does DDoS work?

Ans. DDoS attacks use multiple compromised systems to flood a target with requests, overwhelming the server and causing disruption. 

Q4. What are the 3 types of DDoS attacks?

Ans. Bandwidth Saturation, Protocol Exploitation, and Application Targeting are the primary types of DDoS attacks.

Q5. What is the Kaveri portal?

Ans. The Kaveri 2.0 portal facilitates property registrations in Karnataka and was disrupted by a DDoS attack in January 2025.

Source:  TH | IE | ToI

What’s in Today’s Article?

• India-US nuclear cooperation Latest News
• Large-Scale Localisation & Technology Transfer
• Upgrading Reactor Specialisation
• Other Benefits
• India-US Nuclear Cooperation FAQs

India-US Nuclear Cooperation Latest News

• The renewed US-India nuclear cooperation signals a diplomatic win for India amid challenging trade discussions with the new US administration. 
• Three key gains emerge: a reaffirmed commitment to the 123 Civil Nuclear Agreement, recognition of past stagnation, and a push to maximize the benefits of the Indo-US nuclear deal signed two decades ago.

Large-Scale Localisation & Technology Transfer

• Despite the US’s protectionist trade stance, the renewed nuclear cooperation includes a commitment to jointly build American-designed reactors in India.
• The pact emphasizes local manufacturing and potential tech transfer, deviating from Washington’s usual push to retain manufacturing within the US.

Upgrading Reactor Specialisation

• The new nuclear deal provides India with an opportunity to modernize its reactor technology, aligning with globally prevalent designs and accelerating capacity expansion.

Advancing in Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)

• India aims to leverage private sector expertise to enter the growing SMR segment. 
• While India has experience with 220MWe PHWRs, its reliance on heavy water and natural uranium makes it outdated compared to the dominant pressurised water reactors (PWRs).

Exploring Global Collaborations

• India’s Department of Atomic Energy is in discussions with Holtec International, a major nuclear technology exporter, to explore potential SMR collaborations.

Strategic Joint Push in SMRs

• India and the US are collaborating on small modular reactors (SMRs) to compete with China, which is emerging as a leader in this field. 
• SMRs are a critical tool for both countries to expand their influence in the Global South, where China has capitalized on the opportunity in industries like electric vehicles.

Other Benefits

• Overcoming Technological and Economic Challenges
  • India’s technological limitations and the US’s high labor costs make it challenging to compete with China independently. 
  • The partnership opens up India’s nuclear sector, potentially ending the country’s technology isolation and boosting its role in the global nuclear market.
• Holtec International’s Role and Investments
  • Holtec International plans to expand its operations in India, including establishing a nuclear technology campus in Pune and a specialty manufacturing plant. 
  • The company anticipates significant foreign investment in India’s nuclear sector, driving economic growth.
• Reviving Nuclear Cooperation
  • The 123 agreement between India and the US, signed in 2007, aimed to foster full civil nuclear energy cooperation but faced obstacles due to legislative challenges. 
  • India’s efforts to amend laws could break this deadlock, leading to joint manufacturing and SMR projects.
• SMRs: The Future of Nuclear Energy
  • SMRs (30MWe to 300MWe) are gaining prominence as a sustainable and commercially viable option in the energy sector. 
  • Holtec’s SMR-300, supported by the US Department of Energy, is in early design stages, with potential deployments in the UK and Canada. 
  • Other Western competitors include Rolls-Royce, NuScale, Westinghouse, and GE-Hitachi.

India-US Nuclear Cooperation FAQs

Q1. What is the 123 Civil Nuclear Deal?

Ans. The 123 Civil Nuclear Deal between India and the US, signed in 2007, facilitates peaceful nuclear cooperation and technology transfer.

Q2. Which is the first nuclear project in India?

Ans. India’s first nuclear project was the Tarapur Atomic Power Station, commissioned in 1969, located in Maharashtra.

Q3. What is a small modular reactor?

Ans. Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) are compact nuclear reactors (30MWe to 300MWe) designed for cost-effective and scalable energy production. 

Q4. Do any small modular reactors exist?

Ans. Yes, SMRs are under development, with prototypes like Holtec’s SMR-300 being planned for deployment in countries like the UK.

Q5. What is a pressurized water reactor (PWR)?

Ans. A Pressurized Water Reactor (PWR) uses water at high pressure to transfer heat from the reactor core, commonly used in nuclear power plants.

Source: IE | FE

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Delhi Earthquake Latest News
• Introduction
• Seismic Activity in Delhi
• Understanding the Aravalli-Delhi Fold Belt
• Different from Himalayan Earthquakes
• Sound During the Earthquake
• Possibility of a Large Earthquake in Delhi
• Conclusion
• Delhi Earthquake FAQs

Delhi Earthquake Latest News

• On 17th February before dawn, Delhi experienced a magnitude 4 earthquake, making it the strongest quake to have originated within the city in the past five years. 

Introduction

• Delhi is located in a seismically active region, making it susceptible to earthquakes.
• Although most tremors felt in the city originate from far-off places like Afghanistan or the Himalayan region, the recent earthquake originated within Delhi itself.
• The event has sparked discussions about the city's seismic risk, geological features, and the possibility of stronger earthquakes in the future.

Seismic Activity in Delhi

• Delhi falls under Zone 4 of India’s earthquake hazard map, meaning it is in the second-highest category of risk.
• This classification is based on the MSK scale (Medvedev-Sponheuer-Karnik scale), which measures earthquake intensity. Zone 4 areas can experience MSK-8 intensity, making them vulnerable to structural damage.
• In the last five years, Delhi and its surrounding regions have recorded multiple small earthquakes (magnitude 2-3), mostly unnoticed by residents but detected by seismometers.
• Such low-magnitude tremors are common, but stronger quakes are rare in the region.

Understanding the Aravalli-Delhi Fold Belt

• Delhi is part of the Aravalli-Delhi Fold Belt, a geological structure that extends from southern and eastern Rajasthan to Haryana and Delhi.
• This region has undergone significant geological changes over millions of years, leading to folded rock formations.
• These geological stresses can sometimes trigger mild earthquakes.

Different from Himalayan Earthquakes

• Unlike the Himalayan earthquakes, which are caused by the subduction of the Indian tectonic plate under the Eurasian plate, earthquakes in the Aravalli-Delhi Fold Belt occur due to pre-existing geological faults.
• Although the region was more seismically active in the past, tectonic activity has slowed down over time, making strong earthquakes less likely.

Sound During the Earthquake

• Many Delhi residents reported hearing a peculiar sound during the earthquake.
• While earthquakes do produce sound, it is often at frequencies beyond human hearing.
• However, in some cases, large earthquakes can create audible sounds due to vibrations.
• These sounds are often mistaken for the earthquake itself but are usually caused by the shaking of buildings, objects, or underground structures.

Possibility of a Large Earthquake in Delhi

• While historical records mention strong earthquakes affecting Delhi in the past, experts believe that a major earthquake originating in Delhi is highly unlikely. The strongest known earthquakes in Delhi’s history include:
  • 1720: A powerful earthquake reported in Delhi.
  • 1803: A large earthquake that supposedly damaged the Qutub Minar (later found to have originated near Srinagar-Devprayag in Uttarakhand).
• Delhi’s tectonic setup does not indicate the presence of large stress build-ups required for high-magnitude earthquakes.
• However, the city remains vulnerable to strong quakes originating in the Himalayan region, which could cause significant damage due to its dense population and high-rise buildings.

Conclusion

• Delhi’s recent earthquake has once again highlighted the city's seismic vulnerability.
• While a large earthquake in Delhi is unlikely, the city’s location in Zone 4 means it is susceptible to moderate tremors.
• Understanding Delhi’s seismic history and geological structure is crucial for preparedness and disaster mitigation.
• Authorities and residents should remain vigilant and ensure that buildings and infrastructure are earthquake-resistant to minimize risks in case of a stronger quake in the future.

Delhi Earthquake FAQs

Q1. Why did the recent Delhi earthquake gain attention?

Ans. It was the strongest earthquake in Delhi in five years, with its epicenter near Dhaula Kuan.

Q2. What is Delhi’s earthquake risk level?

Ans. Delhi falls in Zone 4, meaning it has a high seismic risk with the potential for significant damage.

Q3. Why do earthquakes occur in Delhi?

Ans. Delhi lies in the Aravalli-Delhi Fold Belt, which has pre-existing faults that occasionally release stress as earthquakes.

Q4. Can Delhi experience a major earthquake?

Ans. While strong earthquakes in Delhi are rare, earthquakes from the Himalayan region can impact the city.

Q5. Why did people hear a sound during the earthquake?

Ans. Earthquake vibrations can create low-frequency sounds, which in rare cases, can be audible to humans.

Source: IE