MK Stalin calls for explanation after NPCIL admission to malware attack

CHENNAI: DMK chief MK Stalin termed the malware attack on Nuclear Power Corporation of India’s computer system as “shocking” and demanded an explanation of the level of cyber security around nuclear plants.

Stalin also urged the union government to conduct an inquiry into the lapses.

The political clamour for action arrives hours after the NPCIL admitted on Wednesday to a malware intrusion into its systems.


It said a user in the administrative department whose computer was connected to the public internet was infected, and that investigations have found plant systems unaffected.

However, the admission arrives a day after the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, run by NPCIL, in southern Tamil Nadu issued a denial of statements about cyber assault on its control systems; the statement, however, did not say external systems also continued to remain secure.

Poovulagin Nanbargal, an environmental pressure group that had run campaigns against the KKNPP plant, put out a statement that the callous manner in which the plant dealt with the issue has deepened fears.”

According to two top state government officials of Tamil Nadu, there has been no communique from the KKNPP to the state government of Tamil Nadu about any cyber attack.