Waiting to use the PC at computer class, we’d while away time discussing the oft-hilarious exploits of the latest computer viruses. That was back in 1989. “Have you heard about the ambulance virus?” a clued up colleague would ask. Without pausing for response he’d animatedly explain how an ambulance image (formed from a set of ASCII characters) moved below the screen with its siren blaring. I infer that the person who wrote such code just wanted to show off his exemplary programming skills and amuse his friends too.

A few years later, virus writers turned their attention to hacking and defacing websites such as www.whitehouse.gov.
Much has changed since then.

Hacking for fun has changed to hacking for profit. Hackers have become more professional, focused, and organized. They use sophisticated techniques like SQL Injection, man-in-the middle attacks, botnets, phishing, and Zero day exploits. Cyber crime is now an industry with organized groups selling hacking services, ready-to-use malware, and databases of logins, passwords, and credit card details.
Just how serious are these threats and what has been the impact on Indian enterprises so far? To find out, Associate Editor, Srikanth RP spoke to security experts, market researchers, security solutions vendors and CIOs.

Our cover story on Security attempts to present the latest security vulnerabilities, contemporary hacking techniques, the impact on Indian enterprises, and the best practices that organizations must adopt to secure themselves.

We are also delighted to share with you that our call for nominations for EDGE (our initiative to recognize the best IT implementations in India), has received phenomenal response, with more than 150 companies across India, sending in their nominations. The next issue will highlight the best IT implementations in India, across different categories.