Strangers on social media could be honeytraps, security officials warned

The increasing frequency of honeytrap attempts targeting those handling sensitive information in security and intelligence agencies have alerted officials not to engage with strangers on social media.

Recent reviews show that there has been a flurry of such activity backed by Pakistan and intelligence agencies have identified several such Twitter handles and Facebook accounts that are being run as honeytraps targeting Indians working in the security setup, sources said.

The recent case of alleged espionage involving a Border Security official that has now led to the arrest of an engineer working with the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has once again raised the fear of honeytraps. Officials say the engineer, Nishant Agarwal, was in touch with two suspected ISI agents from Pakistan posing as women.

An official explaining the new modus operandi for honeytraps being used, said they contact the target by sending pictures of women. "Later it turns out that the photographs don't open. Then they send instructions saying it will only be accessible from a desktop. These are ways in which a computer gets compromised and later data is accessed or officials are blackmailed for more information," said the official. "This is a vicious cycle aimed at sabotaging our critical information," another official said.

Last year, a Group Captain in the Indian Air Force was lured as he got friendly with two women on social media. It was a trap set up by ISI as the women did not exist and the identities were fake. The officer was arrested for leaking sensitive information.

Spreading of fake news on defence- and security-related issues is also a big problem that intelligence and security establishment is grappling with. Pakistani groups with their servers in Eastern European countries are suspected to be behind the conspiracy.

Over 150 online platforms that spread fake news with the purpose of spreading propaganda are under the lens. With the threat increasing, the Army has prepared an information warfare strategy to combat social media propaganda and counter fake news that is often aimed at demoralising the ranks and creating fissures within the force.

A dedicated information warfare section is being planned to put in place a new institution that will include 'social media warriors' who could be civilians working on contractual basis, according to the plan.