The Indian telecom department describes Sanchar Saathi as a citizen-centric tool that "brings robust security features and fraud-reporting capabilities directly to users' smartphones. The app complements the existing Sanchar Saathi portal by providing convenient, on-the-go protection against identity theft, forged KYC, device theft, banking fraud, and other cyber risks.’’ Last week, the Department of Telecommunications ordered mobile manufacturers and importers to facilitate the availability and accessibility of the Sanchar Saathi app on devices for users in India. According to my research, the Indian government had asked companies such as Apple, Samsung and Xiaomi to pre-install the app within 90 days. Reports also said that Apple was unlikely to oblige to the diktat from the government. The directive, as expected, created a wide outrage with privacy advocates raising concerns over the government overreach and possibilities of government snooping. The move also met crit...
I am a technology writer with a focus on cybersecurity. I cover topics such as malware, vulnerabilities, exploits, and security defenses, as well as research and innovation in information security.