Officers in sensitive field asked to use stand-alone computers

The advisory has been sent to all those who handle sensitive desks in the ministries of home, finance, defence, external affairs and security agencies as a precautionary measure.

"We keep advising officers regularly in some ministries and departments to use stand-alone computers for storing sensitive information so that no one can hack them. It is a continuing process," a senior security officer said.

Most of the officers working in strategic and sensitive fields use computers without internet and the advisory is a regular exercise to ensure a fool proof network, the official said.

Earlier, IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said the government's National Informatics Centre was secured and running smoothly and a cyber coordination centre will start operating from next month to take precautions against cyber-attacks.

India is on high alert, monitoring critical networks across sectors like banking, telecom, power and aviation to ensure that systems are protected against possible cyber-attack on its vital networks by the crippling global ransomware, 'WannaCry'.

'WannaCry' has disrupted networks in over 150 countries, including Russia and the UK, and is being termed as one of the most widespread cyber-attacks.

Reports suggest that over two lakh systems globally could have been infected by the malicious software that blocks access to data unless a ransom is paid.