INDIAN CYBERSECURITY REPORT 2025
Citizen Awareness & K-12 Education Guide
Understanding Cyber Threats, Safety Measures & Protection Strategies
Dr. Bhavana Chibber
Principal | Author | Mentor | Researcher
Cybersecurity Expert & Awareness Advocate
🛡 Cybersecurity Awareness Programme 🛡
Empowering Citizens & Young Learners Against Cyber Threats
December 2025
DISCLAIMER & DATA SOURCES
About This Report
This report is an educational resource compiled by Dr. Bhavana Chibber for cybersecurity awareness and public education. It synthesizes verified information from multiple authoritative sources to create a comprehensive guide for Indian citizens, families, and K-12 learners.
Data Sources & Attribution
All statistics, incidents, and case studies are sourced from:
- Government Sources: CERT-In, MeitY, NCRP, I4C
- Industry Reports: Seqrite India Cyber Threat Report 2025, DSCI, Acronis Cyberthreats Report H1 2025, CloudSEK Research, Rubrik Zero Labs
- Verified News Sources: Economic Times, Bloomberg, Reuters, PTI, Times of India
- Judicial & Legal Records: Supreme Court proceedings, government advisories
- Academic & Research Sources: Cybersecurity research papers and forensic case studies
Scope & Limitations
- Coverage period: January–November 2025
- Financial figures are based on reported cases
- Victim identities protected where required
- Cyber threats evolve rapidly; official sources should be checked for updates
Copyright & Usage
© 2025 Dr. Bhavana Chibber – Cybersecurity Awareness Programme
Free for educational and non-commercial use with attribution.
MESSAGE FROM THE CURATOR
My Mission & Approach
Cybercrime has devastated ordinary Indian families, but education has proven to be the strongest defense. This report exists to make cybersecurity understandable for senior citizens, parents, and children alike.
Educational Philosophy
- Simplification Without Dumbing Down
- Empowerment Through Knowledge
- Age-Appropriate Learning
Why I Focus on K-12 Education
Cybersecurity literacy should be as fundamental as reading and mathematics. A cyber-aware child can protect an entire family.
What Makes My Approach Different
- Real case studies
- Hands-on learning
- Community-level impact
- Continuous updates
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: 2025 THREAT LANDSCAPE
2025 marked a watershed moment in India’s cybersecurity history.
2025 At a Glance – Critical Statistics
| Metric | 2025 Data |
|---|---|
| Total Malware Detections | 369 million (11/sec) |
| Financial Losses | ₹22,812 crore (~$2.7B) |
| Global Ranking | #2 most targeted nation |
| Most Attacked Sector | Healthcare (21.82%) |
| AI-Generated Phishing | 82.6% of campaigns |
| Education Sector Impact | ~16% of all attacks |
Cyber warfare escalated during geopolitical tensions, while digital arrest scams emerged as the most financially damaging fraud.
MONTH-WISE CYBERSECURITY INCIDENT REPORT – 2025
January 2025
- Pakistan-backed spear-phishing attacks on DRDO
- APT36 attempted Crimson RAT deployment
- Draft DPDP Rules released
February 2025
- Niva Bupa data breach investigation
- ₹26 billion lost to digital arrest scams
- 27 fraudsters arrested in Gurugram
March 2025
- I4C nationwide advisory on digital arrest scams
- CloudSEK projected ₹20,000 crore losses
April 2025
- Nippon Life cyberattack
- Angel One AWS cloud misconfiguration
May 2025
- 1.5 million cyberattacks post Operation Sindoor
- Star Health data breach (31 million users, 7.24 TB)
June 2025
- Zoomcar breach (8.4 million users)
- ₹4 crore recovered by Hyderabad Police
July 2025
- Lazarus Group hacked WazirX
- New CERT-In cybersecurity guidelines announced
August 2025
- Cybercrime cases crossed 12 lakh
- Telangana losses reduced due to awareness campaigns
September 2025
- NSCS designated as nodal cybersecurity authority
October 2025
- ₹782 crore cybersecurity budget allocation
- Telecom Cyber Security Amendment Rules, 2025
November 2025
- DPDP Rules 2025 notified
- 72-hour breach reporting mandated
December 2025 (up to 6th)
- Supreme Court ordered CBI probe into digital arrest scams
- Sanchar Saathi app mandated
K-12 CYBERSECURITY EDUCATION FRAMEWORK
Why K-12 Cybersecurity Education Matters
Children face cyber risks equal to physical dangers. Early education builds lifelong digital safety.
Stage 1: Foundation Years (KG–Grade 2, Ages 5–7)
Core Concepts:
- Personal information privacy
- Screen time limits
- Stranger danger online
Activities:
- Cyber Safety Superhero
- Posters on private information
Stage 2: Building Blocks (Grades 3–5, Ages 8–10)
Core Concepts:
- Strong passwords
- Fake news detection
- Cyberbullying awareness
Teaching Tip: Passphrase Power
Example: MyDogRockyLoves2PlayFootball!
Stage 3: Critical Awareness (Grades 6–8, Ages 11–13)
Core Concepts:
- Phishing recognition
- Social media privacy
- Two-factor authentication
Activities:
- Phishing lab
- Privacy audits
- Awareness videos
Stage 4: Advanced Digital Citizenship (Grades 9–12, Ages 14–18)
Core Concepts:
- Encryption, VPNs
- Ethical hacking basics
- Financial cybersecurity
- Cyber laws & AI threats
Project: Family Cyber Guardian
IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE FOR SCHOOLS
Monthly Cyber Awareness Calendar
- August: Digital Citizenship
- September: Password Power
- October: Cyberbullying
- November: Phishing Prevention
- December: Safe Online Shopping
- January: Privacy Settings
- February: Data Protection Day
- March: Social Media Safety
- April: Malware Awareness
Parent Engagement
- Workshops
- Family homework
- Cyber safety newsletters
SUCCESS STORIES
Case Study 1
A 12-year-old saved her grandmother from a ₹5 lakh digital arrest scam.
Case Study 2
Delhi school cybersecurity club trained 2,000+ citizens.
Case Study 3
Mumbai primary school saw 60% drop in cyberbullying.
CITIZEN PROTECTION GUIDE
Digital Arrest Scam – Complete Awareness
Scammers Say vs Truth
- Police will call for video investigation → False
- Digital arrest is legal → False
- Transfer money to prove innocence → Never
Immediate Action
- Disconnect immediately
- Do not transfer money
- Call 1930
- Report at cybercrime.gov.in
CONCLUSION – BUILDING A CYBER-SAFE INDIA
Knowledge is the strongest defense. Cybersecurity education from kindergarten to high school will create a safer digital India.
Call to Action
- Educators: Implement framework
- Parents: Reinforce lessons
- Students: Be cyber ambassadors
- Citizens: Share awareness
Together, We Build a Cyber-Safe India
© 2025 Dr. Bhavana Chibber
Cybersecurity Awareness Programme
Free for Educational & Non-Commercial Use with Attribution