Curbs over Smartphone use are on rise at the central level as more and more concerns are raised over hacking and data theft.

Several bureaucrats in all the central ministries and departments have been instructed against the use of the smart phones, except in case of emergency, and has forbade discussing sensitive issues over their smart phones. Such a directive is already in defense and external affairs ministries.

The government evidently found the smart phone to be less secure when dealing with official work as there is risk of embedded malware or spyware that may get downloaded along with an application, and hence they are better to be avoided.

Hacking is not a new threat to government offices which has seen several instances of Chinese and Pakistani hackers breaking into government of India websites and gaining access to official data. It is believed that India has faced cyber threats from Chinese students who are officially working to hack into government offices, commercial establishments and to gain access to admission lists in Army public schools. The cyber threat gains more significance as Modi government is focusing of Digital India that means that most transactions will now be done online. During a recently held cyber security meet it has been warned that the malware comes either pre-embedded in the smart phone manufacturedin China or may get downloaded along with gaming and entertainment apps. A few of these apps linclude Talking Frog, vdjunky, mpjunkie and Top Gun.