The present digital age has many advantages, but all good things come at a price. It is beyond doubt that India is leading the world in digital transactions, but it is also true that the Indian Government, public sector companies, and even private companies have faced vicious cyber attacks in the recent past. It is also true that reported cyber crimes in India are in big proportion as such cause of serious concern. The situation becomes more serious as people are unaware of the modern techniques applied by hackers and fraudsters. As with time, people become aware of one way, but in the meantime, new methods get deployed of which users are unaware, and by the time they realize what is happening, thousands of innocents have already been duped. This vicious circle has been going on for some time now. There are no specific ways to report cybercrime, especially in rural areas. In addition to monetary losses, the main target is the data of millions of users, including fingerprints and bank details. The recent attack on AIIMS Delhi’s main server is just one example of how vicious the attacks are. From time to time, various Government offices are targeted; some attacks are successful in causing extensive damage, while others go unnoticed. But the thing is that there are persistent efforts.
The Government is well aware of the situation and is taking the necessary precautionary measures. From time to time communication to State and UT administrations about preventive measures to be taken are issued. MHA has rightly established the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) along with a Cyber Forensic Laboratory to deal with different types of cases. Practically, mobiles and other devices are the main sources of investigation for any kind of crime. With the help of call records and cell tower positions, major crime cases, including cyber crimes, are cracked. Numerous joint cyber coordination teams have been constituted with all-India jurisdiction. In addition to this, the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) on the model of NIA has also been formed to deal with cyber security incidents and safeguard Government websites. Various cyber security audits are undertaken, and any drawbacks are immediately reported. There is no place for complacency in these matters, and upgrading technology and knowledge is a must. The fact is that no country is safe from cyber attacks.
The majority of cyber attacks originate in China. In this mobile era, no one is safe. Spyware software is there in mobiles itself which share personnel data. From time to time, sensitive information gets leaked. Keeping in view these factors, many organizations have banned the usage of Chinese mobile phones. There are already restrictions on using Chinese desktops and laptops in many Government organizations, including the army. Precaution is the best measure. It is also a fact that India, despite being a Vishaw Guru in software, has not been able to develop any reliable platform like Twitter or Gmail. We are dependent on these platforms officially, which is not a good idea at all. We have successfully created our digital payment platform, UPI. The Government must take the initiative to develop our mailing system without compromising our data or national security. In this digital world, dependence on other countries’ applications can be a dangerous ploy in the long run. Snooping official secrets is not at all difficult in the present scenario.
The Government is acting proactively and initiating the right moves. The public also has to be alert enough to prevent individual cybercrimes. There are enough safeguards in place, like two-tiered security with a PIN and an OTP, to prevent any fraud and these have to be strictly followed. Major financial cyber frauds happen due to compromises on these parameters only. The overall approach has to be don’t let down our safeguard. All institutions must invest in cyber security to maintain secrecy and prevent data breaches. Every step and effort are important.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
