CYBER CRIMES AND BREACH OF CYBER SECURITY AND LAW DURING COVID-19

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INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND:


The ongoing pandemic of corona virus, wide spread all over the world have put another challenge in the world of cyber with various offences and crimes. This worldwide lockdown was open for the cyber criminals 24/7 with no bars.This is true from number of cases filed from various parts of the country. 
During the lockdown, a substantial increase in the rate of cybercrimes was observed all over the world as per various reports. Cybercrimes included fake news, fake accounts, cyber stalking, identity thefts and fake identities, bank and financial frauds, corona medicinal frauds, hacking, etc. 

INCREASE IN CYBER CRIMES:


This historical lockdown proved to be a golden period for the cyber criminals which acted as a  fertile ground for the growth of cybercrimes worldwide. This lockdown came with the opportunities and repercussions. Everything went online starting from work from home (WFH), online classes, webinars, online fitness training, children summer camps and what not and now online schools too! 
This pandemic was a challenge for all including government, private offices, online setups, social media, etc. to keep up their cyber security. 
  • About 500 cases were lodged in India for social posts on covid-19, by Hindustan Times.
  • In Maharashtra, 400 cybercrimes cases were filed on covid issues mostly on hate speech and communal accusations, by Indian Express.
  • Cybercrimes are on the rise during pandemic, says UN disarmament chief.
  • Kerala has recorded the highest number of cyber-attacks during lockdown, by Economic Times.
RECENT CYBER CRIMES:
“one single vulnerability is all an attacker need.”

(A) Cybercrime on social media-


  1. Massive Indian data leak- personal data of 2.9 crore Indians was leaked on dark web for free by cyber criminals.
  2. Bois locker room vs. girl’s locker room on Instagram-
  3. a girl started rape talk on snapchat. Bois locker room on Instagram had no link: Police
  4. Police officer says, girl posing as ‘Siddharth’ on snapchat, suggested sexual assault on herself to a male friend, just to gauge his reaction and character.
  5. Plea in Supreme Court seeking KYC to curb fake accounts, misinformation in social media.
  6. Medford teacher arrested for sex crimes, snapchat app used to communicate.
  7. Other serious cybercrimes like child pornography and inducing children for the same, suicide committed due to no-likes for tiktok video, etc.
(B) Breach of cyber security in IT sector-

  1. Cognizant company in India faced Maze Ransomware Attack, recovery was so severe because of which they made a loss of rs.500 crore.
  2. Hackers hit A-list law firms of Lady Gaga, Drake and Madonna.
(C) Breach of cyber security in medical sector-

  1. Cyber criminals using corona virus panic to steal data from public.
  2. Arogyasetu app, the very famous Indian app made for the tracking of covid patients around the user by connecting on Bluetooth. This app has faced various controversial arguments about the privacy of the individual.
  3. After Arogyasetu app, tender for wristband to track covid-19 patients by government enterprises has caused concern. The requirements and functionalities, sought by the CPSE in the 3 tools raise red flags of surveillance and severe breach of personal data.
(D) Phishing attack-

             The group of Apple and Netflix are the most imitated brands for phishing attack during covid-19 lockdown. The attack was carried out easily by sending various malicious mail and text messages by sending fraud links. The phishing attack victim was thus easy during lockdown as these malicious mails and messages contained free 1-month free Netflix offer or discounts on apple gadgets asking users to click on the given link and hence the attack is committed. Also, fake offers that Reliance Industries Telecom (JIO)offering discounted services during lockdown were observed. Thousands of “fraud portals” had been launched related to the coronavirus. To mention, also the PM CARES coronavirus fund was also fraudulently used to commit cybercrimes.

India’s historic lockdown, has changed everyone’s life inside out without sparing children and old-aged. Everyday activities went online which has forced the non-internet users to connect with the giant world. Unfortunately those unaware/untrained of the cyber space, it’s DO’S & DONT’S which made easy prey to cyber criminals. Today, WFH (work from home), video conferencing is new normal, new office but also provides a new playground for cyber criminals. Recently, in India, zoom app was restricted by the Indian government officials as it had proved unsafe and data leak was reported. Later on, zoom app made changes in their security policies and new versions were comparatively with better security policies. This app was on hike because it was easy to handle and customer friendly.
Other types of cybercrimes include software malware, online defamation, exploit kids on social media, software piracy, online scams, prohibited/illegal content, cyber harassment, cyber trolling, sexting, child pornography, hacking, identity theft, cyber terrorism etc, which are spreading just like coronavirus with no boundaries.

BREACH OF LAW:

The provisions have been made by Indian laws to protect from cyber-attacks and cybercrimes under the INFORMATION AND TECHNOLOGY ACT, 2000.It is the primary law in India dealing with the cybercrimes and electronic commerce. Under this act, all the cyber related crimes are punishable.
Here are the laws which are crossed by cyber fraudulent activities.
Following are some important sections of the Information and Technology Act, 2000.
1. Section 65       - Tampering with computer source documents.
2. Section 66       - Hacking with computer system.
3. Section 66C    - Using password of another person.
4. Section 66D    - Cheating using computer resource.
5. Section 66E    - Publishing private images of others
6. Section 66F    - Acts of cyber terrorism.
7. Section 67      - Publishing information which is obscene in electronic form.
8. Section 67A   - Publishing images containing sexual or pornographic acts.
9. Section 67C - Provision of penalties for disrupting or blocking information by mediators.
10. Section 79     - Provision for intermediaries and their liabilities.


The police officer having the rank of Inspector has the right to investigate these cases of the IT Act, 2000. 

STEPS TOWARDS STRENGHTENING THE INDIA’S CYBER DEFENCES:

Internet has become an integral part of our lives and we have to make this our routine.Hence it is our duty to make the systems strong, increase awareness about the cyber space, and precautions!
On the government part, Indian government issued advisory for online users by the PMO’s cyber chief- India’s National Cyber Security Co-ordinator, Lt. Gen.(retd) Rajesh Pant. After several cases of online fraud regarding medical products came to light, Delhi police had issued an advisory warning  the people not to indulge in such behavior. Even the government sources had sent preventive text messages on various issues concerning international calls, fake government identity calls, links for discounts and vouchers, etc. to its citizens. The government systems have also increased its strength by securing its platform.
On the part of individuals, it is our duty to educate ourselves about various changing dimensions of cyber world. To make and protect our online setups and online accounts by using stronger passwords. Also, our gadgets need to be protected which can be done by firewalls, anti-virus programs, locking our gadget and other preventive measures. We need to work much more on spreading the awareness of cybercrimes and its importance starting from children to aged ones. It is imperative that you must take proactive steps to protect yourself from being a victim of any type of cybercrime, especially on social media. 
On the view of making stringent cyber security laws, with the rapid growth like never before in cyber world, the need for international cyber security laws is deeply felt without taking into consideration the boundaries. Cybercrimes know no boundaries! Recently, the Chinese new law on cyber security was proposed. 
It is now the need of the hour fortaking preventive measures, precautionary steps and adequate cyber security measures as a normfor our cyber space. “true cyber security is preparing for what’s next, not what was last.”


“This article is written by Ms. Sakshi Garge (B.Com DCL, Cyber Volunteer, Pursuing law) you can reach out to her at sakshigarge71@gmail.com
"Special thanks to Mr. Akshay Hariharan  for his contribution as an Editor for this Article."

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  1. The above article is so well drafted & headings helped me to get quick review. It is informative as well. Nice work 👍🏼

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