The wave of hoax bomb threats has targeted over 20 flights operated by carriers based in India, both domestic and international, causing panic and necessitating immediate actions by authorities. Investigations indicate that these threats were spread primarily through social media, with platforms like X (formerly known as Twitter) being utilized by those behind the threats. Authorities swiftly responded by reaching out to social media companies to deactivate the accounts associated with the posts and trace their origins.
Preliminary reports have traced two IP addresses to London and a city in Germany, but cybersecurity experts believe that the actual senders may have used sophisticated methods to mask their locations. The use of VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) or other anonymizing tools could explain why investigations are hitting a wall despite the apparent leads.
Security measures have been ramped up, with airlines and airport authorities coordinating closely to prevent further threats from materializing into real danger. The hoaxes disrupted flights and caused inconvenience for passengers, leading to delays and cancellations. The heightened security measures also underscore the challenges in ensuring safety in an era where threats can be delivered with a few clicks from anywhere in the world.