In a major blow to Chennai's cybercrime unit, the investigation into over three dozen bomb threat emails has hit a major roadblock. The emails, which were sent to various schools, colleges, and even the airport, have led to considerable disruption. Authorities were particularly frustrated when Microsoft refused to provide crucial information related to these emails.
The latest incident coincided with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin's flight to San Francisco, with the hoax emails using IDs that mimicked high-profile political and bureaucratic figures. The police suspect that the individual behind the threats is tech-savvy and likely knowledgeable about Tamil Nadu's political scene.
The Chennai cybercrime team has been tracing these false bomb threats, which were sent using the names of notable figures, including DGP Shankar Jiwal and Sports Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin. An official noted, "The suspect clearly has local knowledge and even personal details about some police officers."
Further complicating matters, the perpetrator used disappearing email addresses, suggesting advanced skills in computer coding. Efforts to trace the URLs linked to the suspect have yielded no results. The police had hoped Microsoft would provide alternative contact details for the email accounts involved but were met with resistance. According to a police spokesperson, "Microsoft has not shared the requested details, only providing information we had already gathered."
The hoax emails have led to severe disruptions. For instance, a threat sent to the Indian Public School in Bengaluru resulted in a chaotic evacuation and a thorough search by the bomb disposal squad, which later confirmed the threat was false. Another threat aimed at disrupting the Chennai airport during Chief Minister M K Stalin's flight caused heightened security measures, though it was also later deemed a hoax.
In response to the growing issue of cyber threats, about 800 personnel in the Goa police force have recently completed training in advanced cybercrime tools and financial fraud detection. This training, provided by the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre, focused on mobile tracking and cryptocurrency investigations, aiming to improve local cyber awareness and technical skills.
Despite these challenges, Chennai's cybercrime police continue their efforts to trace the source of the bomb threats, now seeking international assistance in their quest for concrete leads.
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