Computer Security Expert Busted for Spreading Viruses

By ThirdAge News Staff

Posted October 22, 2010 9:06 PM

 

Computer security expert, Matthew Anderson, is looking at a prison term, for spreading computer viruses.

The 33-year-old from Aberdeenshire, Scotland, has admitted being a key member of a sophisticated international gang of hackers.

He abused his knowledge to target hundreds of businesses with spam containing hidden viruses.

His criminal activities were discovered by Scotland Yard, which led an investigation into the viruses.

The gang, known online as the m00p group, were discovered infecting computers using viruses attached to unsolicited commercial emails.

The Scotsman reports that Anderson composed and distributed millions of spam messages with virus attachments before distributing them.

The viruses ran in the background on an infected computer and allowed Anderson to access private and commercial data stored on them. He was also able to activate webcams, effectively spying on users in their homes and sometimes taking screengrabs.

The hacker also made copies of private documents such as wills, medical reports, CVs, password lists and private photographs.

Anderson, will be sentenced on 22 November.

Read more: http://www.thirdage.com/news/computer-security-expert-busted-spreading-viruses_10-22-2010#ixzz13999MGtv

The government is preparing to issue the Information Security Guidelines to help control cyber crime that has been escalating in recent years.
Addressing a conference on cyber security, emerging cyber threats and challenges on Thursday, Rajan Raj Pant, controller of the Office of the Controller of Certification (OCC), said that the government was working to issue guidelines to help control the increasing trend of cyber crime such as e-mail threats, hacking, internet fraud and identity theft.
The guidelines are being planned by the government at a time when the use of the internet is increasing in sectors like banks and financial institutions (BFIs) and government offices that are sensitive in terms of data security.
“After the issuance of the guidelines, all the ISPs, BFIs and online operators have to abide by them,” said Pant.
“Government sites, sites belonging to banks and financial institutions and online operators must undergo a security audit by the government.” (Source:ekantipur)
source: ktm2day.com

Cyber Crime On A Roll In India

cyber criminals are now targeting Enterprises and Consumers based in Tier III cities.

The ISTR (Internet Security Threat Report) by Symantec states after metro cities its now turn for the cities like Bhopal, Surat, Pune, Hyderabad and Noida which also features in top ten bot affected cities list. However it has not resulted to decline in metro cities. Cyber Criminals have now become more professional and commercial in developing, distributing and using the malicious codes, scripts and services.

The new technology and easy money stuff is responsible for the birth of new hackers and cyber criminals. The new hacking tools and viruses being exchanged among the hackers enable them to break into computer systems more easily than ever before. During the first six months, Symantec had observed an increase in multi-staged attacks. It is an initial attack that is not intended to perform malicious activities immediately but later on.

India is now taking steps to fight against the cyber crime, Indian Police are now being trained on how the Internet, e-mail, and other computer-based tools can be used by criminals to illegally obtain information stored in databases.

In the home to tech hot spots, Banglore, a lab is expected to come up very soon to train more than 1,000 police officers and other law enforcement personnel annually in cybercrime investigation techniques. It will be the third of its kind to provide such services by Indian government after Mumbai and Thane.

“As cyber threats continue to grow in India with more than 30 million Internet users across the tier I and II cities, it has never been more important to remain vigilant and informed on the evolving threats,” says Vishal Dhupar, Managing Director, Symantec India.

Ankit Fadia, the 21-year-old computer whizkid and author of ‘The Unofficial Guide to Ethical Hacking’ said “I could hack a state-owned bank’s website or a government communications website which shows the vulnerability, thousands of Indian websites are being hacked each day”.

He also has announced his association with the Ghaziabad-based Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) for a one year diploma course in cyber security programme through distance learning. In near future such courses can help to take on cyber crimes.
source: www.watblog.com

Indian Police can now track your E-mails

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The police can now read your e-mails without prior permission from the home department.
The Parliament recently cleared an amendment to the Information Technology (IT) Act, allowing the police to intercept or decrypt online information without seeking the home department’s nod.

Rising instances of cyber crime have prompted the move aimed at cutting red tape.

The amendment empowers the inspector general of police to permit interception or decoding information in cyber space in an emergency.

This will help speedy detection of cyber crimes like phishing or sending offensive messages and in tracking terrorists who operate using the Internet.

Advocate I.P. Bagaria said the amendment was necessary.
“Every citizen has a right to privacy. However, this cannot be at the cost of the state or country,” he said.

The secretary in-charge of the state home department should be informed about the interception within three days of tracking.

The secretary the final sanctioning authority has to grant permission within seven days.

Once the sanction has been obtained, it has to be placed before the Review Committee within two months.

Senior advocate Amit Desai said this period should be reduced. “Otherwise there are chances of misuse of these powers.”

The police had to earlier take permission from the additional chief secretary, home or, in an emergency, the joint secretary.

“Liberalisation of interception is required when the world is dealing with terrorism,” said senior police officer-turned lawyer Y.P. Singh.

The amendment has increased the minimum punishment under the Act to three years and made the offense non-bailable.

Cyber expert Vijay Mukhi said there should be a mechanism to check misuse.

source:www.techchase.in

High-tech war on cybercrime

CYBER POLICE

Police from the cybercrime unit will be equipped with the latest high-tech gadgets to effectively combat online offences. Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar said this was necessary, especially in the wake of recent postings on social networking sites such as Facebook and YouTube.

He said combating cybercrime would be a priority as police realised that the force had to adapt to an era where information travelled at rapid speed and was circulated locally as well as globally. “We will come up with a new mechanism and procedures to deal with cases involving the Internet, especially on Facebook,” he told reporters after his inaugural visit to the Johor police headquarters here yesterday.

“We are especially concerned with news or information on the Internet that can disrupt racial relations and the country’s harmony.”He was responding to a video on YouTube where a preacher in Kuching, Sarawak, allegedly insulted Islam.

Ismail said the police would cooperate with other agencies such as the MCMC to get to the bottom of the matter.

On Tuesday, pro tem president of the Muslim Bloggers Association Zainol Abideen drew attention to the video clip of a “priest” delivering a talk at a church in Kuching and allegedly insulting Islam and Prophet Muhammad.

“If there is an element where the police can act, then we will take action against the culprit,” Ismail said.

“The matter could be investigated under the Sedition Act.” Every­­­one needed to be mindful of the impact their statements could have, he added.

On another matter, Ismail said the police would act on unsolved cases if full cooperation was given by the complainant or victims of crimes. “We will act on old cases if new evidence or leads are discovered,” he said.

“We urge the public who want the police to act on old cases to come forward and give us their full cooperation.”

He also wanted people to go straight to the police if they had any grievances and not highlight the matter in the media.
Source: www.internetslife.com