Cybercrime in india: Exploring India’s Struggle Against Cybercrime

22 August 2023

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About Cybercrime in india

Cybercrime is defined as criminal activity that takes advantage of technology and the internet and is carried out digitally. It includes a broad variety of unlawful actions that prey on people, businesses, or even governments with the aim of making money, stealing data, causing trouble, or doing other nefarious acts.
Cybercrime in India has become a significant problem as a result of society’s growing reliance on technology. Because of the development of technology, man now relies entirely on the internet. Man can now access anything while sitting in one spot thanks to the internet. The internet may be used for social networking, online shopping, online schooling, online jobs, and everything else that man can imagine.

Types of Cybercrime In India

Unauthorized access to computer systems, networks, or data with the goal of stealing, altering, or destroying information is known as hacking.
Phishing: The practice of sending false emails or messages to persuade someone to divulge personal information, including passwords or credit card numbers.
Malware: Computer programs including viruses, worms, Trojan horses, ransomware, and spyware that are intended to penetrate and harm computer systems.
Identity theft is the act of stealing someone’s identity by using their personal information, frequently for financial advantage.
Online fraud refers to scams that trick people into handing over cash or personal information through phony offers, auctions, or transactions.
Denial of Service (DoS) Attacks: Putting too much traffic on a network, server, or website to make it inaccessible.
Cyberbullying: Harassing, threatening, or intimidating someone online.

Status of Cybercrime in India

With more than 560 million internet users, India is the second-largest online market in the world, only after China. Additionally, it is predicted that there will be more than 650 million internet users in the nation by the year 2023. The most recent figures from the national criminal records bureau NCRB show that there were 27, 248 incidences of cybercrime in India in 2018.
In fact, a 2017 survey said that Indian customers have lost more than 18 billion US dollars as a result of cybercrime in India . Over 27,000 instances of cybercrime were reported in the nation in 2018, an increase of more than 121% over the number of occurrences two years prior.
Further, 2,332 and 3,503 persons were arrested in relation to the said category in 2020 and 2021, respectively, Chandrasekhar said in a written response to a question in the Lok Sabha at the start of the winter session of Parliament.

Why are cyber crimes on the rise?

Mukesh Choudhary, a cybercrime consultant to the Jaipur Police, said, “Fraudsters are changing their modus operandi very often so that the situation should look more realistic. It should not limit to asking for the OTP or card credentials.”
Prof Triveni Singh, SP, Cybercrime, Uttar Pradesh Police, said cyber criminals target all the facilities offered across the world. “They use social engineering tricks to scam people…They are on rise because we do everything on our mobile phones — from studying to buying essential items,” he said.

Guidelines for Preventing Cybercrimes

Never post personal information online in a public forum. This is equivalent to revealing one’s identify to a complete stranger in a public setting.
Sending photos online should never be done, especially to chat pals and strangers since there have been instances where the photos have been used inappropriately.
Never submit your credit card information on an unsecure website to avoid abuse.

Cyber Laws in India

Information Technology Act 2000 (IT Act 2000) is the main law connected with cyber security in India.
Indian Penal Code, 1860 is also used to book criminals connected with cybercrimes

Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-IN or ICERT)

The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-IN or ICERT) is an office within the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology of the Government of India.
CERT-In is the national nodal agency for responding to computer security incidents as and when they occur. CERT-In is operational since January 2004.
CERT-In has been designated to serve as the national agency to perform the following functions in the area of cyber security:

Collection, analysis and dissemination of information on cyber incidents.
Forecast and alerts of cyber security incidents.
Emergency measures for handling cyber security incidents.
Coordination of cyber incident response activities.
Issue guidelines, advisories, vulnerability notes and whitepapers relating to information security practices, procedures, prevention, response and reporting of cyber incidents.
Such other functions relating to cyber security may be prescribed.