Spyware, Sustainable Development Goals

WHY IN NEWS?

Recently, Apple alerted users, including Iltija Mufti and Pushparaj Deshpande in India, about potential targeting by Pegasus-like spyware. Pegasus spyware, known for state-level surveillance capabilities, can access personal data and device functions like cameras and microphones. Apple’s alert underscores ongoing concerns over privacy and state-backed surveillance, despite governments like India not confirming using such tools.

SUMMARY OF THE NEWS :

Apple has alerted users in India about potential targeting by Pegasus-like spyware, indicating a “mercenary” attack on their iPhones, capable of accessing messages, photos, and device functions. Notably, individuals including Iltija Mufti and Pushparaj Deshpande received these alerts, prompting concern over state-backed surveillance despite Apple’s updated stance. This marks a significant instance since similar alerts were last reported in October 2023, raising renewed privacy debates and calls for forensic examinations of affected devices.

SPYWARE :

• Spyware refers to software that covertly gathers information about a user’s activities on a device without their knowledge or consent.
• Its primary purpose is surveillance, enabling unauthorized access to personal data such as messages, photos, location, and device functions like microphone and camera.

Types of Spyware:

• Keyloggers: Capture keystrokes to record passwords, messages, and other sensitive information.
• Trojans: Malware disguised as legitimate software, granting unauthorized access to a device.
• Adware: Tracks user behavior for targeted advertising.
• Remote Access Trojans (RATs): Allows remote control of a device, often used in espionage.

 Pegasus Spyware:

• Developer: Developed by NSO Group Technologies, an Israeli technology firm.
• Target Market: Sold exclusively to governments and law enforcement agencies worldwide.
• Functionality: Capable of penetrating smartphones (iOS and Android), exploiting vulnerabilities to gain complete access to the device.

Capabilities:

• Data Access: Reads messages, emails, call logs, and browser history.
• Audio and Video Surveillance: Activates microphone and camera remotely, enabling real-time monitoring.
• Location Tracking: Monitors GPS location of the device.
• Device Control: Can install/uninstall applications, modify settings, etc.

Incidents and Controversies:

• Targeted Users: Often journalists, activists, politicians, and dissidents critical of governments.
• Global Concerns: Raised privacy and human rights issues due to potential misuse by authorities for surveillance purposes.
• Legal Challenges: NSO Group has faced legal scrutiny and accusations of selling spyware to authoritarian regimes for suppressing dissent.

Detection and Mitigation:

• Alerts: Recently, Apple and other tech companies have started alerting users to potential spyware infections, as seen in recent incidents in India.
• Forensic Analysis: Experts recommend forensic examination of devices to detect and mitigate spyware infections.

India-specific Context

Iltija Mufti and Pushparaj Deshpande: Notable individuals in India who received alerts from Apple regarding potential Pegasus-like spyware targeting.

Government Response:

Supreme Court Investigation: In India, there have been calls for investigations into allegations of government use of Pegasus spyware, though the government has neither confirmed nor denied such activities.

Implications:

• Privacy Concerns: Highlighted the need for robust cybersecurity measures and regulations to protect individuals’ digital rights.
• Legal and Ethical Issues: Sparked debates on surveillance laws and governmental oversight of surveillance technologies.

PYQ: – Related questions

Year: 2019

   Question (Prelims): Consider the following statements:

     1. The Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) uses a secure cryptographic key pair, comprising a public key and a private key, to establish secure communication.

     2. Digital signatures and certificates are used in the Public Key Infrastructure.

     Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

     A. 1 only

     B. 2 only

     C. Both 1 and 2

     D. Neither 1 nor 2”

Answer: C. Both 1 and 2

Explanation: Understanding of cybersecurity concepts, including encryption and digital signatures, which are relevant to discussions on spyware and secure communications.

Year: 2018

Question (Mains): “In the light of recent controversy regarding the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVM), what are the challenges before the Election Commission of India to ensure the trustworthiness of elections in India? Suggest a remedial mechanism.”

Answer: The answer would typically involve discussing various aspects of cybersecurity, including threats like tampering and the role of technology in ensuring electoral integrity.

WHY IN NEWS?

India’s demographic journey has seen significant shifts highlighted on World Population Day, originating from concerns in the 1960s and 1970s about rapid population growth. Since then, India has made strides in reducing fertility rates, improving life expectancy, and lowering maternal and child mortality. However, challenges remain, including gender inequality, nutrition disparities, and healthcare accessibility, crucial for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. India’s path forward necessitates addressing these dynamics comprehensively to ensure inclusive and sustainable development.

SUMMARY OF THE NEWS :

India’s demographic journey, highlighted on World Population Day, reflects significant achievements and ongoing challenges. Since the 1960s, despite earlier concerns of overpopulation, India has seen declines in fertility rates and improvements in life expectancy and health indicators. However, issues like gender inequality, nutrition deficiencies, and income disparity persist, posing hurdles to achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. Addressing these dynamics is crucial for India’s sustainable development path and equitable progress across all sections of society.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS:

Origin:

Adopted by the United Nations in 2015, the SDGs build upon the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and aim to address global challenges comprehensively by 2030.

Scope:

The SDGs consist of 17 goals and 169 targets covering a wide range of interconnected issues such as poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace, and justice.

Key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Goal 1: No Poverty:

• Target: End poverty in all its forms everywhere.
• Focus: Income poverty, social protection systems, and sustainable livelihoods.

Goal 2: Zero Hunger:

• Target: End hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.
• Focus: Agricultural productivity, food distribution systems, and resilience to climate change impacts.

Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being:

• Target: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
• Focus: Maternal and child health, communicable diseases, universal health coverage, and mental health.

Goal 4: Quality Education:

• Target: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
• Focus: Access to education, quality of education, and skills development.

Goal 5: Gender Equality:

• Target: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
• Focus: Eliminating discrimination, violence, and harmful practices; ensuring equal opportunities in leadership and decision-making.

Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation:

• Target: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
• Focus: Access to safe and affordable drinking water, sanitation facilities, and water quality management.

Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy:

• Target: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.
• Focus: Renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, and universal access to electricity.

Goal 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth:

• Target: Promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.
• Focus: Job creation, entrepreneurship, labor rights, and economic diversification.

Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure:

• Target: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation.
• Focus: Infrastructure development, technological progress, and research and development.

Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities:

• Target: Reduce inequality within and among countries.
• Focus: Social, economic, and political inclusion; policies to empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all.

Implementation and Challenges:

Global Partnership for Sustainable Development:

Emphasizes the need for partnerships between governments, private sector, civil society, and international organizations to achieve the SDGs.

Challenges:

• Financing: Mobilizing resources, both domestic and international, to fund sustainable development initiatives.
• Data and Monitoring: Improving data collection and monitoring mechanisms to track progress effectively.
• Governance and Policy Integration: Ensuring policy coherence across sectors and levels of governance to achieve SDGs.

India and the SDGs

National Context:

• India has integrated the SDGs into its national development agenda, aligning them with schemes like Make in India, Digital India, and Swachh Bharat Mission.
• National Indicator Framework: India has developed a framework to monitor progress towards achieving the SDGs at the national and sub-national levels.

Challenges and Way Forward:

• Addressing disparities: India faces challenges such as poverty, malnutrition, gender inequality, and environmental degradation that require targeted interventions.
• Strengthening Institutions: Enhancing institutional capacity and governance structures to implement and monitor SDGs effectively.
• Innovation and Technology: Harnessing innovation and technology to accelerate progress across sectors like healthcare, education, agriculture, and renewable energy.

PYQ:

Year: 2016(Mains) Question: “Demographic Dividend in India will remain only theoretical unless our manpower becomes more educated, aware, and skilled.” Explain. What initiatives has the government of India taken to harness the demographic dividend?

Answer: This question involves discussing the concept of demographic dividend, its prerequisites (education, skill development, etc.), and government initiatives (like Skill India Mission, Make in India, etc.) aimed at harnessing it.