In 2024, India experienced a new kind of wake-up call—cyber breaches that didn’t just steal data but shook trust. These weren’t isolated tech glitches or simple coding errors. These were strategic violations—of financial platforms, telecom operators, government portals, and even welfare schemes. If we believed privacy was a legal checkbox or IT department issue, 2024 proved otherwise.
From WazirX’s ₹1,900 crore loss in crypto assets to state-sponsored espionage on defence infrastructure, the spectrum of privacy threats expanded beyond imagination. Even seemingly small breaches, like that of the UP Marriage Assistance Scheme, revealed how fragile public systems can be when identity is misused.
This blog analyses five major privacy failures from 2024—not to sensationalize them, but to learn from them. Using insights from global privacy blogs, case studies, and regulatory findings, we explore what really went wrong, how it could’ve been prevented, and what lessons we must adopt across sectors.
Whether you’re a policymaker, a techie, or just someone with an Aadhaar number, this blog is your privacy mirror: The question is simple:
If exposed 2024 our digital weak spots; will 2025 be the year we secure them?
1. WazirX Crypto Exchange Breach – $230 Million Gone in a Blink
In early 2024, WazirX, a well-known Indian crypto exchange, experienced a major breach when a multisig wallet managed by Liminal was compromised. The attackers exploited flaws in transaction data to bypass even hardened security protocols. Over $230 million was stolen, and WazirX had to pause deposits while attempting to recover lost funds.
What we learned:
No matter how advanced the tech stack, transactional transparency and anomaly detection must be active 24x7.
Third-party custody providers must undergo frequent security audits and red-teaming exercises.
In crypto, security is not an option—it’s the foundation.
2. Cyberattacks on Indian Government Sectors – The Transparent Tribe Campaign
AAPT group Transparent Tribe launched an advanced phishing campaign targeting India’s Department of Defense Production and other key government entities. The breach exploited email vulnerabilities, giving attackers potential access to classified data and internal communication networks.
What we learned:
Even government agencies remain susceptible to phishing and social engineering.
There’s a critical need for regular awareness training for all employees, not just IT teams.
Cybersecurity in the public sector must be treated on par with physical national security.
3. BSNL Data Breach – Telecom’s Wake-Up Call
In May 2024, BSNL suffered a breach exposing sensitive data of millions of users, including IMSI numbers and SIM card details. The hacker, ‘kiberphant0m’, reportedly stole over 278 GB of information, offering it for sale on the dark web. The incident led to the formation of an inter-ministerial audit committee.
What we learned:
Telecom infrastructure is a backbone for both civilians and armed forces—it deserves zero-trust-level protection.
Identity data and SIM information must be encrypted at rest and in motion.
Real-time threat detection should be a legal requirement for telcos.
4. Cyber Espionage in the Indian Energy Sector: A Silent Crisis
In early 2024, cyber investigators uncovered a stealthy malware campaign targeting India’s energy companies. With nearly 8.8 GB of confidential data exfiltrated, this was not a typical ransomware event—it was state-sponsored espionage at its worst.
What we learned:
Critical infrastructure sectors like energy, water, and transportation must establish sector-specific cybersecurity protocols.
Internal systems should be segmented, and data access must be role-restricted and logged.
SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) tools must be standard, not optional.
5. Uttar Pradesh Marriage Assistance Scheme Fraud; Policy Meets Privacy Breach
In a disturbing misuse of authority, hackers compromised the digital ID of the Additional Labour Commissioner to siphon off ₹1 crore from the UP-Marriage Assistance Scheme. The fraud involved rerouting benefits to ineligible candidates using forged credentials.
What we learned:
Government welfare schemes are soft targets unless robust identity and access controls are in place.
Every action under an admin login should trigger a multi-factor authentication + alert log.
Routine access log audits could have caught this early.
Final Takeaways – Time to Harden the Core
Across all these incidents, five common gaps emerge:
Human error & insider exploitation
Lack of layered cybersecurity
Over-trust in third-party tools
Weak endpoint monitoring
Delayed breach detection
Conclusion – From Reactive to Proactive
India’s 2024 privacy failures reflect not just poor technical protection, but systemic neglect of digital accountability. As India aims to be a trillion-dollar digital economy, this cannot continue.
India’s ambition of becoming a trillion-dollar digital economy cannot rest on patchy infrastructure or delayed breach responses. What we need is a “Privacy-First” mindset, not just privacy laws on paper. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA) is a solid start, but real impact depends on daily implementation—from startups to state portals.
Whether you're a crypto investor, a government official, or a policy student; the message is clear:
Security is no longer the IT team's job; it’s everyone’s responsibility.
References:
1 Sattrix -https://www.sattrix.com/blog/biggest-cyber-attacks-in-india/
2.EU- GDPR-https://gdpr-info.eu/
3.63SATSCybertech-https://63sats.com/blog/indias-major-cybersecurity-incidents-of-2024-what-lies-ahead-in-2025
4. Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023.
5.Skilllogic-https://skillogic.com/blog/biggest-cyber-attacks-in-india-2024-data-breaches-hacks/
