In a statement issued to DH, the company confirmed that it had filed a complaint with the local law enforcement authorities after receiving a threatening email from an unidentified source.
Wipro, India’s third largest IT services company, on Saturday registered a formal complaint with the cyber crime cell of Bengaluru police after receiving a bio attack threat email demanding Rs 500 crore in digital currency bitcoin as ransom.
The company’s reception on Friday morning received an anonymous email and the sender threatened to use the drug Ricin, a natural toxic protein, on all Wipro offices in Bengaluru if the company failed to pay up.
The sender of the email identified as ramesh2@protonmail.com, said that the toxin would be spread through food at the cafeteria, toilet seats, toilet paper and all around the campus using drones. The sender threatened that if the ransom was not paid by May 25, he would start sending samples of ricin in envelopes and later launch a full-fledged attack. The sender provided a link for making the payment.
In a statement issued to DH, the company confirmed that it had filed a complaint with the local law enforcement authorities after receiving a threatening email from an unidentified source.
“Wipro has augmented security measures at all its office locations. There is no impact on the company’s operations. We have no further comments as the investigation is ongoing,” stated the company release.
Cyber police have registered the case under Section 66 F of the IT Act (cyber terrorism) and investigations are underway. According to the cyber police, the email also claimed that one kg of ricin had already been stored and two grams would be sent in envelopes to one of Wipro’s offices to confirm that the threat is real. The case has been transferred to the jurisdictional Bellandur police station.
Ricin is a natural toxic protein, which is an extract of castor bean from the castor plant. A tablespoon of high quality Ricin can kill an adult within a few hours.
According to security analysts, Wipro should go in for Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) protection as it is facing heightened threat. “The government amended CISF Act in 1969 to pave way for the para military force deployment in private company units. As per the latest statistics, CISF is deployed in eight private sector units so far in the country,” they said. Infosys was the first corporate in India to get CISF security cover in 2009.