Websites Of 25 MP Govt Departments Shut Over Hacking Fears, PHP Upgrade Underway

The websites of approximately 25 government departments in Madhya Pradesh have been temporarily inaccessible due to cyberattack concerns. Officials cited the need to upgrade PHP, a programming language used to develop these sites, to safeguard government data from potential hackers. This action has sparked questions regarding the efficiency of government departments and the National Informatics Centre (NIC), which provides technical assistance for government websites.

Several institutions have reportedly neglected to update their information on public welfare programs, government orders, and significant announcements for years. Yet, websites managed by departments that frequently uploaded data have also been taken offline, impeding public access to vital services.

Cybersecurity experts have identified two significant vulnerabilities, known as PHP2Shell, within the PHP programming language. These flaws could enable hackers to execute malicious code on servers without permission, potentially leading to the theft of sensitive information, including passwords and application programming interface (API) keys. In response, officials are swiftly upgrading PHP versions to thwart possible cyberattacks. Approximately 90% of government websites in Madhya Pradesh rely on PHP.

The security issue is believed to be nearly a decade old, prompting inquiries into why timely updates were postponed. This delay has also drawn attention to the NIC officials. Departmental representatives emphasized that upgrading PHP is crucial to prevent unauthorized access to government computer systems. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav recently transferred ₹1,831 crore to 1.24 crore beneficiaries under the Ladli Behna scheme as the 42nd installment.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav is scheduled to embark on a five-day trip to Singapore and South Korea starting November 24.