Latest laws Helping good people to do good things.August,18,2015: Government moves to tighten controls on the web over offences that "jeopardised Internet security"
The police in China said on Tuesday they had arrested about 15,000 people for crimes that "jeopardised Internet security,” as the government moves to tighten controls on the Internet.
Since taking over in 2013, President Xi Jinping has led an increasingly harsh crackdown on China’s Internet, which the Communist Party views with greater importance and acknowledges as something it needs to control, academics and researchers say.
Police have investigated 7,400 cases of cyber crime, the Ministry of Public Security said in a statement on its website. It did not make clear over what period the arrests were made, but referred to a case dating to last December.
Six-month programme
China launched a six-month programme last month, code-named “Cleaning the Internet.”
“For the next step, the public security organs will continue to increase their investigation and crackdown on cyber crimes,” the Ministry said.
The campaign would also focus on breaking major cases and destroying online criminal gangs, it added.
The sweep targeted websites providing “illegal and harmful information” besides advertisements for pornography, explosives and firearms and gambling. In total, the police said they investigated 66,000 websites.
Sophisticated censorship
China runs one of the world’s most sophisticated online censorship mechanisms, known as the Great Firewall. Censors keep a tight grip on what can be published, particularly material that could potentially undermine the ruling Communist Party.
In February, China’s internet watchdog said it would ban from March 1 Internet accounts that impersonate people or organisations, and enforce the requirement for people to use their real names when registering online accounts.
Indian Scenario
Rising at alarming rate, the number of cyber crimes in India may touch a humungous figure of 3,00,000 in 2015, almost double the level of last year causing havoc in the financial space, security establishment and social fabric, a study warned.
During 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 years, a total number of cyber crimes registered were 13,301, 22,060 71,780 and 62,189 (till May). Currently, the cyber crimes in India is nearly around 1,49,254 and may likely to cross the 3,00,000 by 2015 growing at compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 107 per cent. As per the findings, every month nearly 12,456 cases registered in India. But still the number of accused arrested in India for this is only about 3200 in Four Years during 2010-2013.
Indians are estimated to be loosing Rs. 34,000 Crore anually to Cyber Criminals. Globally it is about Rs. 18,00,000 Crore anually.
During the years 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 (till May), a total number of 21,699, 27,605, 28,481, 48,174 Indian websites were hacked by various hacker group spread across worldwide and likely to touch 85,000 by 2015, adds the study.
There are many ways that sensitive information is hacked as a result of cell phone usage. The most common are due to installation of uncertified applications.
The smartphone users rarely check for security certificates and download apps (games, music and other software) from third party or unsecured sites. Mobile banking apps store data such as PIN, account number on the phone. So, there is a risk that if the phone is hacked or stolen, then the information is compromised, points out the study.
Credit and debit card fraud cases top the chart of cybercrimes. There has been a sixfold increase in such cases over the past three years. According to the data, around 2277 complaints of online banking/credit/debit card fraud have been reported this year, followed by 191 Facebook-related complaints (morphed pictures/cyber stalking/cyber bullying). Other major cyber complaints were cheating through mobile (61), hacking of e-mail ID (59), abusive/offensive/obscene calls and SMS (55), and others.
As per the study, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra have occupied the top 3 positions when it comes to cyber crimes registered under the new IT Act in India. Interestingly, these three states together contribute more than 70 per cent to India's revenue from IT and IT related industries.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), in 2013, 681 cyber crime related cases have been registered in Maharashtra, which has seen a 44.6 per cent rise in cyber crimes when compared to 2012. Andhra Pradesh with 635 cases registered in 2013 has also seen a 48 per cent rise when compared to 2012. Karnataka with 513 cases registered in 2013 has seen a 24.5 per cent rise when compared to 2012.
- Avoid online banking, shopping, entering credit card details, etc if the network is not properly secured
- Check your online account frequently and make sure all listed transactions are valid
- Be extremely wary of e-mails asking for confidential information. Never ever click on a link given in a spam e-mail
- Always delete spam e-mails immediately and empty the trash box to prevent clicking on the same link accidentally
- Beware of lotteries that charge a fee prior to delivery of your prize
- While using a credit card for making payments online, check if the website is secure as the CVV will also be required for the payment
- Notify your bank/credit card issuer if you do not receive the monthly credit card statement on time. If a credit card is misplaced or lost, get it cancelled immediately
- Do not respond to lottery messages or call on the numbers provided in the text messages
- Do not provide photocopies of both sides of the credit card to anyone. The card verification value (CVV), which is required for online transactions, is printed on the reverse. Anyone can use the card for online purchases if they get that information
- Do not click on links in e-mails seeking details of your account, they could be phishing e-mails from fraudsters. Most reputed companies will ask you to visit their website directly
- Do not give any information to people seeking credit card details over the phone
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Information Technology Laws
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Technology Development Board Act,1995