PUBLISHED BY: SURENDER KUMAR
APRIL 11, 2014

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Indian cyber security experts have alerted Internet users against a very deadly virus 'Heartbleed’, setting the alarm bells ringing globally due to fears of theft of passwords, credit card numbers and other sensitive information. The virus, currently circulating in India, attacks the openSSL of an online system, which is the most essential protocol to encrypt information and transfer data over the Internet.

The Computer Emergency Response Team of India (CERT-In), the nodal agency for hacking, phishing and Internet security, fears that it could compromise personal data and passwords of a user.  While categorising the virus as “severe”, the agency says that all unguarded online systems are prone to its attack. The virus, with derives its name from a ‘bleeding red heart’ motif, has alerted many countries to take notice of its destructive activities in the last few days. Some of its suspect messages resemble a ‘red-coloured X’ motif, similar to a red, bleeding heart.