Remote access program used to crack SSC

It all started with screenshots of the question papers and answer keys of the quantitative ability examination of Combined Graduates Level (CGL), dated February 21, 2018, surfacing on the Facebook page of SSCTUBE at 10.10 am on the same day, 20 minutes prior to the commencement of the examination. 

“Answer keys appeared at 10.10 am, while the test was scheduled to start at 10.30 am on that day,” the CBI noted.

SSC is the recruiting agency in the country for group B non-gazetted posts in various ministries besides group B gazetted posts.

Investigation revealed that these screenshots came from seven candidates who appeared for the CGL examination at various centres conducted by the SSC.

Since 2016, SSC started the online CGL examination and had roped in Sify Technologies to conduct the tests.

Sify had been entrusted with a hoard of responsibilities including preparation of question papers, identifying exam centres and capturing biometrics of candidates.

They were also continuously monitoring and recording candidates’ activities at each centre with the help of CCTV surveillance, taking steps to prevent possible leakage of question paper and most importantly to block access to all possible web resources for browsing, chatting, in the computers of the candidates besides blocking printing and copy and paste facilities.

On the day of examination, Sify Chennai headquarters uploaded the question paper to central server of their data centre in Mumbai between 9.30 am and 10 AM. After 10 am all supervisors in the exam centres received the activation password.

But 20 minutes before the examination started, screenshots surfaced on the Facebook page.

CBI said that it is clear that the seven candidates used remote access software to solve their question papers with additional help from outside.

It is also clear that the question paper was leaked before the scheduled time and the investigators strongly believe that Sant Prasad Gupta, head of content team, Sify, who was the custodian of the said question paper, was involved in some way.