Sunday, February 7, 2016

Cyber War started between India and Pakistan! Suspected Pakistan-based groups have hacked the official web portal of the Indian Revenue Service!!

India claims that it has more engineers and doctors producing every year. And of course, in software industry Indians have been making imprints with their amazing work. However, they have not been able to counter the cyber attacks of their Paki-friends. Thus, news says that “suspected Pakistan-based groups” have hacked the official web portal of the Indian Revenue Service (IRS) belonging to the Income Tax department[1]. Officials said the website — http://www.irsofficersonline.gov.in — was hacked early Saturday 06-02-2016 and it has been rendered inaccessible since then[2]. They said messages were posted on the link like "Pakistan Zindabad" and "we are team Pak cyber attacker". In India, we have always “suspected” categories only in any good or bad things happenings here and there!

No kidding, the IRS website was hacked: The website[3], which acts as an official communicator for official work between the Central Board of Direct Taxes and the I-T department’s field offices in the country, has put up a message saying[4], “We’ll be back soon! Sorry for the inconvenience but we’re performing some maintenance at the moment.” As per the Daily, the hackers got into the ‘Official Communique (for IRS officers only)’ section and wrote[5] - “Hacked by Faisal 1337, Dated: 05/02/2016, Pakistan Zindabad” and “We are Team Pak Cyber Attacker. Go Home Kiddo India Kids Hacker.” And another message read[6] - “Feel the power of Pakistan, Indian gov website Pwned (sic).” At the same time it is being said that the no theft of any information or data took place[7]. The government website is meant for Indian Revenue Service officials and contains crucial information and data on IRS officers[8]. “Thankfully, the website does not have information that can compromise national security,” an IRS officer was quoted by the Daily as saying[9].

As usual official reports sent etc: The technical team handling the website has sent a report in this regard to the Computer Emergency Response Team of India [CERT-In], which is the nodal agency to combat hacking, phishing and to fortify defences of the Indian Internet domain[10]. Officials said a security audit is being undertaken of the website, adding no sensitive or secret information was uploaded on the universal resource locator of the IRS community working in the I-T department[11].

Top Comment: With our reputation for internet expertise, our government is too easy to break into. Because we are careless, and no one is in charge.Dilip Jhaveri. The website, which acts as an official communicator between the Central Board of Direct Taxes and the I-T department field offices in the country, has put up a message saying, "We'll be back soon! Sorry for the inconvenience but we-'re performing some maintenance at the moment." A report has been sent to the Computer Emergency Response Team of India (CERTIn), the nodal agency to combat hacking, phishing and to fortify security-related defences of the Indian internet domain[12].


How cyber-warfare starts: In Pakistan, boys, between 14 and 22, have been very cyber-active engaged in internet and visiting hundreds of website daily. They have fun of cracking logins of many websites with their ingenious skills of permutation and combination of passwords, profiles etc. They have their own hacking manuals created for the purpose. Many do with purpose and some do for fun. Of course, ultimately, all have one thing in common that is not found among the Indian youth. Idelogical wars are initiated by the ideological groups at all levels applying ideological warfare that included cyber-warfare. Here, none worred about ethical or unethical hacking.




[1] The Hindu, Suspected Pakistan-based groups hack IRS website,Updated: February 7, 2016 20:28 IST.

[2] Times of India, Pak-based’ groups hack IRS website, PTI | Feb 8, 2016, 01.44 AM IST.

[4] Indian Express, IRS website hacked by suspected Pak based groups, By: PTI | New Delhi | Published:February 7, 2016 5:56 pm.

[5] Z-news, IRS website hacked by suspected Pakistani hackers, messages like 'Pakistan Zindabad' posted, Last Updated: Sunday, February 7, 2016 - 23:07

[8] Indian Express, ‘Hackers from Pak’ take down IRS website, By: Express News Service | New Delhi | Published:February 7, 2016 1:01 am.

[10] Live mint, Indian Revenue Service website hacked by suspected Pakistan-based groups, First Published: Sunday, February 7, 2016, 22.48; Last Modified: Mon, Feb 08 2016. 01 18 AM IST

Thursday, January 28, 2016

Electronic Accounting System in Excise and Service Tax (EASIEST)

Introduction
The Central Board of Excise and Customs Department (CBEC), Principal Chief Controller of Accounts, CBEC, Controller General of Accounts and the Reserve Bank of India with the participation of 29 Commercial Banks introduced the Electronic Accounting System in Excise and Service Tax (EASIEST) in April 2007 with the GAR-7challan. 
Data uploaded by Banks
CBEC has devised the file formats for uploading data regarding tax payment. Banks are expected to generate and upload tax data as per these formats.

Once the file has been prepared as per the file format, it can be verified for correctness of its structure using the File Validation Utility (FVU) provided by NSDL.
Single copy challan for Central Excise Duty and Service Tax
From April 2007 onwards assessees should pay tax using the single copy challan, GAR-7 instead of earlier four copies. 

Challan Status Inquiry
Assessees can track online the status of their challans deposited in Banks. The status can be tracked on the basis of the Challan Identification Number (CIN) which is stamped on the challan counterfoil by the Bank. CIN consist of seven-digit BSR code of Collecting Bank Branch, Date of Tender (ddmmyyyy format) and Challan Serial Number (five digits). 
Assessee Code Based Search
This facility enables the Assessee view its details (name, address, location code) as present in the Assessee Master provided by CBEC. Details of Assessee codes allotted for Service Tax and Central Excise (i.e. Registration Number or Non-Assessee Code) can be viewed using this facility.