HYDERABAD - Information Technology (IT) companies in the cyber city of Hyderabad may begin snooping on the surfing habits of their employees after it emerged that several software professionals have been closet sympathisers of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

The southern city, which is the shared capital of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states, is the cyber capital of the country with global IT centres where many multinational companies have their offices.

Police have sent an advisory to the IT companies, and have held at least two meetings with their honchos to alert them of the threat, as well as take stock of the preparedness of "lone-wolf" terror attacks, hostage crisis or other emergencies that might emerge, the Times of India reported.

Police have also advised all IT firms to impose restrictions on social networking groups dominant in Iraq, Syria, Pakistan and other terror-hit countries, and to keep a tab on all employees who access these groups at workplace. Any suspicious activity needs to be reported to the police, TOI report said.

Most of the guidelines were shared orally during the meetings.

Armed security has already been increased in the IT hub of Hyderabad with security personel scanning vehicles before allowing them on the premise, as well as preventing entry to unauthorised persons.