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