The Indian Government Provides Free Malware Detection And Removal Tools: Here’s How To Get It

As part of its ‘Cyber Swachhta Kendra,’ also known as the Botnet Cleaning and Malware Analysis Centre, the Indian government is providing free botnet detection and eradication tools. The project, which is part of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology’s (MeitY) Digital India programme, aims to create a secure cyberspace by detecting botnet infections in India and assisting users in cleaning and securing infected devices.

According to the Cyber Swachhta Kendra website, the centre is administered by the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) and works in partnership with Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and antivirus firms.

What exactly is a botnet?
A ‘bot’ is a sort of malware that connects your PC to a ‘botnet,’ which is essentially a network of infected machines. When a device joins a botnet, the hacker (botnet owner) has the ability to copy all data from the device, download dangerous apps, block outgoing and incoming texts and calls, and even obtain access to sensitive information such as net banking details, usernames, and passwords.

To avoid getting infected by a bot, only download apps from trusted app stores or websites, and avoid reading emails or links from unfamiliar sources.

How can I identify and eliminate botnets?
To see if your machine is infected with malware, use one of the Cyber Swachhta Kendra’s free bot removal programmes. The website now advertises three free botnet products for Windows: eScan Antivirus, K7 Security, and Quick Heal, along with download links.

Download the ‘eScan CERT-IN Bot Removal’ tool, or ‘M-Kavach 2,” developed by C-DAC Hyderabad, from the Google Play Store to scan your Android device for viruses.

In addition to botnet detection tools, users can install ‘USB Pratirodh,’ a desktop software that allows users to govern the use of removable storage media such as mobile phones, pen drives, and other supporting external storage devices.

When a new USB device is plugged in, the user is prompted to authenticate it by entering a username and password. The utility may also analyse the USB drive for viruses, encrypt data, and change read and write permissions.