An Indian national was sentenced to two years and eight months in jail for unauthorized access to his former employer’s computer systems, resulting in substantial financial losses.
Background of the Incident
Kandula Nagaraju, a 39-year-old Indian national, was employed by Singapore’s National Computer Systems (NCS).
His tenure at the company ended abruptly in October 2022 due to poor work performance.
However, Nagaraju’s departure from NCS was not the end of his involvement with the company.
Following his termination, Nagaraju accessed NCS’s computer systems without authorization.
In a calculated act of revenge, he deleted 180 virtual servers, significantly disrupting the company’s operations.
The financial impact of this cyberattack was severe, with NCS reporting losses amounting to SGD 918,000 (approximately Rs 5.6 crore).
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Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
According to India Today reports, the case was brought to light after NCS discovered the unauthorized access and subsequent deletion of critical cyber material.
Following a thorough investigation, Nagaraju was apprehended and charged with unauthorized computer access and data destruction.
Nagaraju was found guilty of the charges in court. The judge, emphasizing the severity of the crime and its impact on the company, sentenced Nagaraju to two years and eight months in jail.
The sentence reflects the judiciary’s stance on cybercrimes and the importance of safeguarding digital infrastructure.
This case underscores the critical need for robust cybersecurity measures within organizations.
It also highlights the potential risks posed by disgruntled former employees.
Companies are urged to implement stringent access controls and regularly update security protocols to prevent similar incidents.
The sentencing of Kandula Nagaraju serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of cybercrime.
As digital infrastructures become increasingly integral to business operations, the importance of cybersecurity cannot be overstated.
This case will likely prompt companies to reassess their security measures and protect their systems against internal and external threats.
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